46 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



what was sold across two barrels and a board, while some of 

 the larger roadside stands did from $8,000 to $15,000 worth 

 of business. 



Comparatively new is the community roadside market with 

 near-by farmers supplying fresh vegetables, thus assuring a 

 large variety at all times. Home-made ice cream, candy, 

 doughnuts and cookies are an added feature. 



Perhaps the most unique farmers' market is the moving 

 community market, where all the farmers in a community get 

 together and hire a man to go from house to house selling a 

 wagonload of fresh fruits and vegetables direct from the farm. 



In profit sharing lies the secret of the success of these mar- 

 kets, for the failure to offer an advantage in prices and quality 

 are the principal causes of unsuccessful attempts at roadside 

 selling. 



Produce Market Research Studies. 



In the spring of 1921 the Legislature of Massachusetts 

 designated the Division of Markets to make analysis of costs 

 entering into the marketing of Massachusetts farm products. 

 After a preliminary survey of the situation, the Division of 

 Markets, in co-operation with the Bureau of Agricultural 

 Economics, United States Department of Agriculture, decided 

 to start with a study of the margins in the marketing costs of 

 Connecticut Valley onions, inasmuch as this is one of the most 

 important cash crops of interstate market importance produced 

 in Massachusetts. 



The growing and marketing of Connecticut Valley onions 

 carries with it a high degree of financial risk. These can be 

 overcome to a large extent by the adoption of methods that 

 have already proved profitable. A means of establishing trade 

 confidence and eliminating some of the marketing hazards 

 became effective this year with the adoption of an inspection 

 and certification service on the basis of United States standard 

 grades. 



Since the system of marketing potatoes is typical of that 

 employed in the distribution of other staple farm products, it 

 was thought that such an analysis would be valuable for com- 

 parison with other market studies. A survey was made of the 

 methods and costs entering into the distribution of Maine 

 potatoes in Massachusetts. The system of marketing potatoes 

 from the time they leave the grower until they reach the con- 



