UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 1002 
Contributed from the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates " 
H. C. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
December 23, 1921 
OPEN TYPES OF PUBLIC MARKETS. 
By McFall Kerbey, Formerly in Charge of City Marketing Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
Function of public markets 3 
Retail and wholesale markets 4 
Ownership and control 5 
Page. 
Essential conditions for successful 
open market 7 
Establishment of a market 10 
Operation of a market 17 
Summary 18 
INTRODUCTION. 
There are several types of public markets in the United States for 
the sale of food products. Some farmers may and probably do sell 
through each of the types, but the typical " farmers' market " in 
most sections of the country is of the so-called open type, which is 
held either along street curbs or on tracts of ground especially set 
aside for market purposes. Markets of the latter type though pro- 
tected by sheds are still considered open markets. In common usage 
the term " open market " refers to all markets other than those con- 
sisting of stalls, booths, or store spaces housed in buildings. The 
latter are most commonly referred to as " inclosed markets." In this 
bulletin the term " open markets " will be used as including " curb 
markets " and " shed-protected markets," and as practically synony- 
mous with " farmers' markets " and " producers' markets." 
A public market differs radically from a store, shop, or group 
of shops under one ownership. In such stores and shops the person 
owning or controlling the agency also owns and controls the goods 
sold. In public markets, on the other hand, the agency — that is, the 
market — and the actual selling of the goods are in different hands. 
A " market " in the sense meant in this publication is merely a place 
in which and a group of conditions under which sales may be made 
by numerous owners of goods. The market establishment, in other 
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