Annual Report - 16 - 



i 

 Many problems in agriculture have concerned the Division of ! 



Markets this year, but, again, the most frustrating concerned the 



problem of insufficient labor for the harvesting of fruits and 



vegetables. 



Because of its seasonal nature, agriculture is continually , 



faced with a labor problem and at no time is this more crucial | 



and pressing than at harvest time. At one time this problem was 



greatly eased by i Ta po x t lng labor from outside the country, from 



Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rica, as examples. But over the past i 



few years these sources have been gradually closed by the U.S. I 



'1 



Department of Labor, making it imperative to find new sources. '\ 

 The Division of Markets is ever on the alert to locate such 

 possible sources. 



In conclusion, because of constant changes in marketing 

 practices, the Division of Markets staff finds itself becoming 

 more and more involved in many new consumer services and act- 

 ivities. This means spreading our personnel thinner and thinner 



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over the many duties with which we are charged and some services ' 

 are necessarily slighted. 



This Division is convinced that the production and orderly \ 

 marketing of food is of the utmost importance, essential to the ; 

 well-being of the agricultural community and to the consumer. 

 But because of a lack of personnel, low salaries and an insufficient, 



I 

 i 



working budget, we are -unable to cover the many services with which 

 we are charged, in a satisfactory manner. j 



Such a situation can only be improved if the Department of j 

 Agriculture is allotted mare adequate funds and additional personnel. 



