Annual Report -1- 



Th« funetloQ of the Dlvlaloo of Markets la to create the best 

 possible ellnate for the atate^a agricultural produota and to help 

 with a variety of prograaa aimed at inauring that theae produota move 

 through marketing channels in an orderly manner fron the farm to the 

 consumer* 



This is no small reaponsibility. Thn marketing of farm produota 

 in Massachusetts involves cash reoeipta to farmera of more than 170 

 million dollars and an agribusiness worth five billion dollara annually* 

 making it the aeoond large-^t induatry in the state. The Division of 

 Markets role includes providing certain essential market information, 

 shipping point inspections, timely product promotiout and consumer 

 protection* 



Our personnel are qualified for many kinda of inapection, 

 investigation and market reporting • thua making for both economy 

 and efficiency* These services include all fruit and vegetable 

 inapeetions at ahipping points and at retail stores, purity blueberry 

 inspections, wholesale price reporting in Boaton, Worcester and 

 Springfield city marketa, editing Special Apple Market Reports, retail 

 price reporting for the Oreater Boaton area. Milk Flavor Programs 

 and Crop Reporting Programs operating under Federal-State matching 

 funds, inspection and certification of approved controlled atmosphere 

 storage rooms, seed inspection and administration of the seed inspection 

 law including cooperative work with the U.3.D.A. in regard to the 

 Federal Seed Act. 



We are also charged with the adminiatration of the apple, potato 

 and "native*^ labeling and grading laws, with the gathering of statis- 

 tical marketing data, and with acting as a clearing house for all press 

 releases issued by the Department* 



