30 U. OF N. H. AGRI. EXP. STATION [Bulletin 249 



list in sending circular letters or cards, at opportune times, embodying 

 the information that some special crop is ready, like strawberries, to- 

 matoes, or canning peaches. An occasional advertisement in the lo- 

 cal papers may also bring new customers, but has not been used ex- 

 tensively in New Hampshire. 



The name of the stand should be distinctive and if possible tell 

 something about the farm or the market that will make it significant 

 and easy to remember as well as pleasing to contemplate. Names like 

 "Hilltop Spa," ''Sanderson Farm," ''Red Gate Farm," "Honey Gar- 

 dens" are good examples in our state. In lieu of meeting these re- 

 quirements and sometimes to avoid duplication, a unique phrase or 

 catchy word may be used, but successful advertising carefully avoids 

 the facetious or undignified. The importance of a name that will ful- 

 fill its mission in all respects warrants much care in its selection. 

 Many of our stands are susceptible to improvement in this respect. 



Roadside Marketing Associations 



Middlesex County, Massachusetts, was a pioneer in forming an 

 association for the protection of producers and consumers against cer- 

 tain unfair practices which developed in roadside marketing. In 1925 

 an organization called the Middlesex Farmers' Roadside Stand Associ- 

 ation was formed with the idea of preventing unscrupulous vendors 

 from buying produce in the city wholesale markets to sell on leased 

 land by the roadside in competition with fresh goods produced and 

 sold by bona fide farmers. A little later this association was made 

 more inclusive by changing its name to the Farmers' Roadside Stand 

 Association of Massachusetts and the ear of corn sign was originated 

 as a distinguishing mark of fair dealing, to the display of which such 

 stands as voluntarily agreed to certain rules and regulations were en- 

 titled. Practically simultaneously New Jersey was developing a sim- 

 ilar scheme under its State Horticultural Society in conjunction with 

 the State Department of Agriculture. The same ear of corn sign was 

 adopted as in Massachusetts. Since then some other states have 

 adopted similar plans. The official sign has been registered and is 

 only available to members, but other states with groups of stands 

 willing to subscribe to rules and regulations acceptable to the original 

 association may obtain permission to use the same. 



As before suggested. New Hampshire has not experienced this men- 

 ace of unscrupulous reselling of farm products to any appreciable ex- 

 tent and as yet hardly needs the protection of such an association. 

 There might accrue some advertising value from the use of this sign, 

 however, and complying with the necessary rules and regulations would 

 hardly involve any decided change of policy for stands already sell- 

 ing agricultural products in New Hampshire. 



There are several different signs to be seen beside the road indicat- 

 ing as many kinds of associations purporting to apply to roadside 

 business, especially in regard to overnight accommodations. These, 

 however, represent commercial organizations which attempt to render 

 some service to the public in designating certain places of business 

 that agree to rules and regulations promulgated by this association. 

 In return the association requires stands displaying the sign to pay a 

 fee which enables them to further extend the service. 



