430 ANKUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTME:N^T OF AGRICULTURE. 



COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AND MARKETING. 



This work during tlie latter part of the fiscal year ended June 30, 

 1919, was supervised by Mr. O. B. Jesness, succeeding Mr. C. E. Bas- 

 sett, who resigned in December, 1918. 



Personal assistance has been given in the solution of many organi- 

 zation problems ; for example, assistance was given to dairy farmers 

 in New Englancl in preparing organization plans, and work of the 

 same character was done with peanut growers in Virginia and North 

 Carolina, bean producers in New York and Colorado, and potato 

 growers in Michigan. 



Organization problems w^ere discussed and explained at a numl^or 

 of general gatherings, such as farmers' week and farm bureau meet- 

 ings. Existing organizations were helped, and information relative 

 to organization questions was supplied to a large number of individ- 

 uals in this way. 



A number of cooperative marketing organizations v/ere visited to 

 obtain information Avith regard to their form of organization, method 

 of operation and problems encountered, and the general survey of 

 cooperation in the United States, started some years ago, was con- 

 tinued. 



State cooperative laws were studied and suggestions in regard to 

 such legislation were given upon request. The suggested cooperative 

 law published in Service and Regulatory Announcements No. 20 

 (1917) has formed, the basis for at least tw^o State laws in force at 

 the present tim.e, and the legislature of a third State has passed a 

 similar law v>'hich has just been approved by the governor. 

 Similar legislation has been under consideration in other States dur- 

 ing recent sessions of the legislatures. 



CITY MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION. 



Concentration of public interest on the high cost of food durizig 

 the past year has caused a number of municipalities to take under 

 consideration the matter of publicly owned retail markets as a means 

 for obtaining lower prices and more efficient distribution. As a 

 result, the project " City Marketing and Distribution," under the 

 leadership of Mr. G. V. Branch, has been called upon during the fiscal 

 year for surveys, information, and advice in regard to food distribu- 

 tion problems. Work of this nature has been carried on in Cleveland, 

 Akron, and Toledo, Ohio; Jacksonville, Ke.y West, Miami, and St. 

 Augustine, Fla. ; Indianapolis, Ind. ; Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Rich- 

 mond, Ya. In the city last named a comprehensive program for 

 the betterment of its public market system was formulated and 

 plans were furnished for the improvement of existing structures 

 and for the installation of refrigeration and cold-storage facilities. 

 The results of this work should be useful in solving comparable 

 problems in other communities. Information and advice also liave 

 been given to other municipal governments and to market commit- 

 tees, farmers' organizations, and others. 



Studies made in various cities indicate that meats and dairy prod- 

 ucts may be handled in their public markets at less expense to the 

 dealer than in outside stores. The problem remains, and is receiv- 

 ing earnest attention, to see that the consumers participate in the 

 savings effected by the dealers. 



