Markets Served p-- Produce purchased by brokers at the auction are 

 shipped to the New York area, Philadelphia, and other nearby points 

 as well as to Canada o Purchases by roadside market operators are 

 largely confined to the New Jersey area. 



Selling Methods 0-- All produce sales currently move through the auctioUo 

 In 1968 the cooperative discontinued its direct sales program for 

 peaches which had been in operation for about 9 years. 



Brand Policy ,-- The cooperative had a Jersey Bell brand for its direct 

 sales peach program until 1968. Under the auction program a few of 

 the grower-members pack under their own label, but the co-op has no 

 brand of its own. 



Market Inf ormat ion „ - - Methods used by the cooperative in obtaining 

 market information, include reports from Federal and State market 

 news, trade journals, and by the phone from market information service 

 at Bridgeton, through brokers and market contacts at Hunts Point, 

 No Yo 



Quality Control .-- Basically, quality control of produce for the 

 auction sales is performed by growers on their f arras „ However, 

 availability of the inspector at the auction helps farmers realize 

 the importance of quality in relation to price when the buyers look 

 over the samples » 



Operating Problems »-- The cooperative's business is too far flung 

 for efficient supervision of a general manager. In addition, the ■ 

 cold storage facility at Pitman is obsolete and inefficient. These 

 problems should be corrected on completion of the centralized opera- 

 tion at Mullica Hill which will include a new cold storage building, 

 and facilities for sales and purchase. 



Management's Appraisal of Sales Situation ,-- Management believes that 

 the overall increase in direct buying has hurt their auction sales 

 to some extent. Fewer buyers at the auction make it more difficult 

 pricewise for growers selling their produce. 



The cooperative also believes it should supply more service to buyers to 

 gain their good will. 



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