T/hirlteen/ 1 Iiennial Jeporl

OF THE

PloriPda

Ji-ale A-lar eting Jureau

204 ST. JAMES BUILDING
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

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FOR PERIOD
JULY 1, 1941 TO JANUARY 1, 1943

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Reading Time: 40 Minutes

THIRTEENTH BIENNIAL REPORT
FLORIDA STATE MARKETING BUREAU

The first Biennial Report of the Florida State Marketing Bureau
in 1919 carried the following comment from Commissioner of Agriculture
McRae:

"Our State Marketing Bureau began its career in the midst of the world's
greatest war. There was disorder, confusion, rumor and dismay. Labor
was withdrawn from the farms and industries. The railroad congestion
was unprecedented. The government appealed for increased production.
There were food restrictions and price regulations. The people hardly
knew whether they were going somewhere or coming back."

And the following comment by Commissioner Rhodes:

"When the office of the Bureau opened in Jacksonville, July 1, 1917. we
were in the throe of the world's greatest war. The octopus of militarism
had fastened its tentacles around the industrial and commercial life of
our country. The energies of one half of the population of the earth were
turned from production to destruction and men in every walk of life were
drawn from normal channels of trade to abnormal ones. Some industries
were stimulated, others paralyzed. We were passing through the red
midst of the world's greatest tragedy, and our first duty was to win the
war, other business was secondary."

The Thirteenth Biennial Report of the Bureau is prepared in time
of another world war, with Germany now as then the chief instigator of
the conflict. Today as then peoples must be fed. Notwithstanding the many
improvements in the preparation, transportation and marketing of food
products, and despite the fact many problems have since been solved, chang-
ing methods and modern demands continually present marketing and trans-
portation difficulties, which are made greater by war conditions.

Turning to the Sixth Biennial Report (1929) after mentioning
many improvements and the part the Bureau played in securing them, the
following remarks were made:

"Yet, with this immeasurable stride in marketing, the goal is still far in
the distance. In Florida we have hardly more than two-thirds the market
news stations we need, and the present means of disseminating the in-
formation needs expansion; only two years ago did we adopt any kind
of official grades for Florida; only a few years have we taken advantage
of inspection work; only a comparatively short time have grades been
utilized; only two years have we had any kind of legislation on poultry
and eggs and as yet no grades or standards whatever on these; the live-
stock and dairy interests are just beginning organizational work and need
assistance; the export trade is one that is just forming for Florida citru.3
fruits; cooperative organizations are just beginning to function advan-
tageously; only one season has the Florida Citrus Growers Clearing House
operated, and to aid it the Florida State and Federal Bureaus have given
daily market news almost indispensable to its efficient manipulation of
distribution; and not until these services and many others are available

did the small shipper have any protection or information as to markets
or reputable buyers or disinterested, authentic information as how to
ship, to whom to ship, or how to deal with these factors; and neither did
the larger independent interests have any agency that could also serve
them and the grower equitably, fairly and without jeopardizing either
the interest of grower or dealer."

This department has refrained from engaging in competitive mar-
keting and proof of this policy, as far back as 1933, is given in the following
comment appearing in the Eighth Biennial Report of the Bureau:

"One conclusion that will arise following a scanning of the above com-
parison is that the Florida State Marketing Bureau, touching as it does
in some way practically every product of importance that is shipped from
Florida in commercial volume, and giving as it does such a complete
general marketing service, does not actually handle in its own name the
direct marketing of these products. As before cited, when the Florida
State Marketing Bureau was established, there were comparatively few
like departments in existence. Not having precedents, the Florida De-
partment had to pioneer its way and in the beginning products were
handled directly. The demand for Bureau help increased so rapidly and
so extensively that we had our office practically filled with express ship-
ments of various kinds and received many cars of watermelons, potatoes,
citrus fruit and other commodities.

"After actually selling and handling various products by the State Market-
ing Bureau, it was decided that a more efficient and generally more ex-
tensive service could be provided by the Bureau through encouragement
of grades, packs and shipping practices in general; through acting in an
advisory capacity to the grower and shipper, providing him with all the
marketing information that he might need, and in fact supplying him
with all the necessary data sufficient that he could close his own trans-
action, knowing fully how much competition he had in the products
he was offering, what the markets to which he intended to consign or sell
were receiving, what the prevailing prices were at shipping point and at
destination, what the prevailing market conditions were in the various
markets, whether the dealer with whom transaction was to be consummat-
ed was reliable, than to become a state-wide marketing organization.
The wisdom of that decision has been well demonstrated."

In reviewing the activities, and the application of our services
along fundamental, conservative, legally defined policies, set forth in the
previous twelve biennial reports, it is timely to submit some of the facilities
and achievements Florida growers and shippers now have in contrast to the
system in effect in 1917 when the State Marketing Bureau was established.

The agricultural industry of Florida did not have prior to July 1917
the following facilities, but has since obtained them either by virtue of
Bureau effort exclusively or- cooperatively with other agencies:

Did not then have the State Marketing Bureau, or any State Mar-
keting Division.

Did not then have any official general efficient organization to help
the Florida agricultural industry, particularly the small farmers, without
directly competing with large growers and shippers or their representative,
cooperative or independent, marketing agencies.

Did not then have any official agency providing the shippers with
free and full service as to the commercial and financial responsibility
of produce dealers to whom shipments were consigned or sold, or merchan-
dise dealers from whom supplies were purchased.

Did not then have any agency providing producers and shippers
with regular reports of where, by whom and at what price seeds and plants,
farm implements and machinery, and other necessities might be acquired
or disposed of, the popular For Sale, Want and Exchange Bulletin was
devised to provide such outlet for articles not readily marketable through
any existing medium of exchange or sale. Exclusive Bureau service.

Florida then had no official agency with an experienced, competent
staff to provide general packing and shipping information and other market-
ing data on the many products of this State. Initial development, exclusive
Bureau.

There was then no official agency with field marketing specialists
to aid shippers in marketing their products. Provided by Bureau in co-
operation with Commissioner of Agriculture Mayo.

There were then no official grades and standards for fruits, vege-
tables, poultry, eggs, etc. Exclusive Bureau prepared the first Florida
Fruit and Vegetable Standardization Law.

There was then no State law requiring dealers to be bonded by
the State. In cooperation with the State Poultry Association, Bureau offi-
cials prepared such a suggested law which was adopted and passed by the
1941 Legislature.

Florida then had no agency providing the shipper optional ship-
ping point inspection service for fruits and vegetables whereby he would be
given at only self-sustaining inspection cost a Federal certificate as to grade,
condition and other factors of his product. Exclusive Bureau cooperating
with the Federal Bureau initiated this service and still maintains it, for both
fruits and vegetables and dressed poultry and eggs. This service has pro-
vided Florida shipping point inspection for 586,580 ears of fruits and vege-
tables thru the 1941-42 season.

There was then no agency providing terminal market fruit and
vegetable inspection for the three larger Florida cities. Exclusive Bureau-
Federal project.

There was then no agency providing continuous cannery plant
inspection. Exclusive Bureau-Federal service.

There was no agency providing complete market news service for
fruits and vegetables. Initial and continual, exclusive Bureau-Federal
service.

There was no poultry and egg market reporting service for
Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa. Exclusive, Bureau.

There was no livestock reporting service for cattle, hogs, etc.
Exclusively started by Bureau, presently exclusive Bureau-Federal.

Then there was no Federal-State frost warning service. Federal
funds secured and preliminary skirmishing performed in Washington
through the activity of the Commissioner of the Bureau, assisted by Florida
Congressional representatives. State matching funds requested by the
Commissioner of our Bureau and secured by Senators Holland, Parrish and
others in the Florida Legislature.

There was no agency supplying impartial, accurate, official segre-
gated reports annually of Florida truit and vegetable shipments, valuations,
consumption and cannery volume and value in complete form. Exclusive,
Bureau.

There was then no official agency handling claims without cost
to growers for the many products of this State.

The State of Florida did not until July 1917 have any agency within
the State compiling and supplying producers and shippers with marketing
papers, bulletins, handbooks, grade booklets, covering every important mar-
keting procedure from the field to the market. Incidentally some of the
Bureau books are among the very few from Florida mentioned in national
and international bibliographies of agricultural publications.

The Bureau is undeniably the pioneer official marketing agency
in the State. In addition to the above mentioned services, the Bureau was
the first, either exclusively, or cooperatively with other agencies, to start
the following in Florida:

Made arrangements for and held the first carlot shipping point
turkey sale in Florida.
The first carlot broiler sale for producers, also the first carlot
live poultry sale.
The first Government surplus egg buying (1937).
The first Feature Florida Foods Week (1934).
The first independent livestock auction.

The first egg auction (Tampa 1934-35).
The first producer cooperative carlot egg sale.
Cooperating agency, first vegetable state-wide cooperative mar-
keting organization.
Cooperating agency, first Marketing Codes and Agreements.
Cooperating agency, first state-wide grape growers marketing
association.
Cooperating agency, first agricultural exhibit train.
Cooperating agency, first State livestock show.
Cooperating agency, first State dressed poultry and egg show.
Cooperating agency, first market news on fishery products.
Cooperating agency, first Government Federal-State dressed tur-
key inspection on Federal grades.
Cooperating agency, first State controlled creamery.
Cooperating agency, first Federal-State Government egg inspec-
tion in Florida.
Cooperating agency, the first official inspection for determining
buying grades in connection with the Federal Surplus Commodi-
ties and Relief Purchase Programs.
The first hog and cattle cash auction field sales.
The first to broadcast agricultural market news data by radio
in Florida.
The first to arrange for State-wide radio release of general agri-
cultural market news information in Florida, and early forenoon
New York vegetable flash for press and radio.
The first State agency to provide compulsory shipping point citrus
grade inspection in Florida (two first seasons of Citrus Marketing
Agreement.)
The first to assemble, classify, and currently release daily vegeta-
ble shipments by truck, and to prepare seasonal summaries thereof.
The first official agency to compile and release f.o.b. Florida ship-
ping point citrus prices.
The first official agency to arrange for special advance release from
Federal Truck Crop Estimators of the U. S. Department of Agri-
culture forecasts of the probable movement of all the leading
vegetables from all the main Florida shipping sections for follow-
ing two to four weeks, along with revision of previous estimates.

The first to suggest that Florida growers improve their strain of
Porto Rico sweet potatoes.
The first official agency in Florida to publicly emphasize, in press
and otherwise, the commercial importance of dehydration, par-
ticularly in war time.
The first official agency to point out to Florida farmers the use
and importance of converting farm wastage into profit in the
plastics industry.
The first to make a survey of Florida vegetable packing houses,
their value, number of employees, etc.
The first State agency to tabulate detailed tobacco auction sales,
poundage, prices, etc.
The first and only State agency to tabulate average jobbing sales
prices for all important Florida vegetables on northern terminal
markets; for forty vegetables on Florida home markets; for hog
and cattle quotations eleven years, three markets, by grades; hay
and grain averages for six years; poultry and eggs for twenty
years, for peanuts, honey and other Florida products.

Florida today does have in the agency of the Florida State Market-
ing Bureau an official organization performing these various services, and
so many other activities are effected that mentioning them all in detail
would require more space than is warranted. Continuing the major pro-
jects initiated years ago, we have all along supplemented established lines
of duty and given every possible additional help to the growers and shippers
of Florida.

The Bureau has initiated many of the movements to better Florida
agricultural marketing, has cooperated in starting others, and holds a long
period of faithful and effective cooperation with governmental agencies
in providing important and much needed services. We have done all possi-
ble in our field without attempting to absorb well defined functions of other
divisions, take any credit belonging to them, or to gain publicity for self
advancement. We have been conservative, never over promotional. We have
the experience, training and ability in the Bureau organization to handle
any public demands made upon us.

When egg producers in February 1942 reported surplus production
from various sections of the State, the Bureau gave helpful assistance. In
fact, during the peak week we secured orders for 750 cases more eggs than
could be filled. The Poultry Marketing Specialist of the Bureau supervised
and handled the grade and inspection features of the Federal egg purchase
program.

Likewise we gave every assistance to producers of cabbage during
the low market period in March 1942. Basic information was supplied the

Surplus Marketing Administration as to cost of production and other data.
Federal-State inspection was required by the Government, not only in their
purchases of cabbage, but also citrus fruit, and this was provided by the
U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida State Marketing Bureau
cooperating.

Special weekly reports were given the Jacksonville Quartermaster
Center through request of Army officials and Food Distribution Administra-
tion. The Bureau made arrangements for accurate, unbiased, official in-
formation to be supplied the Army Quartermaster Center in Orlando and
other cities as to the volume of fruits and vegetables in Florida, and the
points at which supplies would be available during the season of each
product. Special reports are mailed Army and Navy purchasing agents
in Florida and other States.

In the last two-year period, or since submitting our Twelfth
Biennial Report, the Bureau through its Specialists and general personnel
has been especially active in market news, inspection, and field work pro-
vided by our Marketing Specialists. Special field stations have been operat-
ed at concentrated points of production in cooperation with the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, providing the growers and shippers with daily
price, market and other essential data, with auxiliary services to other
sections. Livestock daily reports are distributed to Florida under the same
cooperative arrangement from Thomasville, Ga. From the Jacksonville
office throughout the main shipping season, Nov. I through June 30, an all-
inclusive daily shipment, passing, arrival and unload northern market and
f.o.b. price bulletin is released, covering all the principal Florida vegetables,
which is distributed to some 2500 shippers regularly. Wire and telephone
service is given individual shippers, some 80 wires are sent out on dates
of egg price changes. Also a special poultry and egg report including
Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa prices is sent out by the Bureau the entire
year. Possibly 95% of the eggs sold in Florida are merchandized on the
basis of the Bureau quote.

In the last two years we have cooperated in providing inspection
on 192,578 cars of fruits and vegetables for grade, or condition, for commer-
cial purposes or Government purchases.

SERVICES OF POULTRY PRODUCTS SPECIALIST

Our Poultry and Egg Marketing Specialist has in the current
biennial period graded and inspected 1,500,060 dozen eggs valued at
$468,640.50; helped market from office 282,000 dozen eggs- valued at $103,-
511.00; sold cream for farmers, valued at $18,850.00; sold 412,606 pounds
of poultry valued at $119,685.00; given advice on sale of hogs and other prod-
ucts valued at $77,250.00; purchased or advised on purchase of 60,000 chicks,
40 dairy cows and 12 heifer calves, valued at $13,800.00; collected two bad
accounts valued at $212.00; total value $801,948.50. Attended 80 meetings,

attended by 5,262; prepared 35 articles for papers, total circulation 344,000;
revised and wrote 5 bulletins for Florida Department of Agriculture; wrote
in line of duty 1,467 letters; held 142 conferences with farmers and shippers,
number taking part 803.

Assisted County Agents, Vocational Agricultural Teachers and
others in holding 21 egg and poultry shows where consumer educational
programs on grades and market practices were stressed. There were 4
state-wide shows, one in Jacksonville, one in Gainesville, and two in
Tampa. The F. A. A. Club boys exhibited 1,300 dozen eggs at the two Tampa
shows where more than 200,000 people saw how eggs should be graded and
packed to attract consumers.

Supervised several dairy calf shows where 4-H boys and girls and
F. A. A. boys competed for premiums. Half of the money for these con-
tests was furnished by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Assisted in es-
tablishing several cream stations, the first to be tried in Florida where
farmers could bring in cream and receive cash for it.

Assisted the Poultry Association of Florida secure the passage
of a law requiring poultry and egg dealers to take out a performance bond
and be licensed by the Commissioner of Agriculture to do business in
Florida. This law will save Florida farmers many thousands of dollars as
it protects them against bad checks.

Supervised the grading and handling of eggs for the A. M. A. dur-
ing the purchase period to take the surplus eggs off the Florida market and
peg the price of eggs at a price profitable for production during the spring
and summer of 1942.

Gave every assistance possible to the several State Farmers Mar-
kets that were handling eggs or wished to arrange to do so.

Secured authority from the U. S. D. A. to provide a shipping point
and an arrival point inspection service on dressed poultry and turkeys.

SERVICES OF MARKET NEWS SPECIALIST

The primary duty of the Specialist in Market News is to supervise
the distribution of all Federal-State Market News information in Florida.
Under a cooperative agreement with the U. S. Agricultural Market Admin-
istration during the past 20 years, we have been provided with all the
market news facilities of the United States Government via leased wire into
our Bureau. We jointly operate the field market news offices in Lakeland,
Plant City, Belle Glade, Pompano, Sanford, Hastings, Leesburg and Gaines-
ville, with auxiliary services to other sections and distribute the leased
wire information to them from Jacksonville. The Jacksonville office re-
leases a master market news bulletin which gives the most important ship-
ment, passing and market information affecting the Florida fruit and vege-
table industry.

Our Market News Specialist also covers the wholesale markets of
Jacksonville each morning and establishes official quotations which are re-
leased to the Associated Press, the Jacksonville papers, to radio stations, and
published in our daily market bulletin. These reports cover fruits, vegeta-
bles, eggs, poultry and miscellaneous produce. This Bureau is credited with
exerting a highly stabilizing influence in the egg and poultry markets. The
producers and dealers of the State think so highly of our established quo-
tations that a vast majority contract to sell and buy on the basis of our
quote for a year in advance.

Our Market News Specialist prepared detailed statistical data on
shipments by rail, truck and water and also acreage and miscellaneous
county figures. Our official truck shipment figures have in the past enabled
the Florida rail lines to convince northern connecting lines to reduce rates
on Florida fruits and vegetables and should be equally potent in the future.

Our Market News Specialist with his comprehensive information
on Florida fruits and vegetables is regularly called upon to represent the
State as an official witness in Federal, State and local hearings on rate and
transportation matters. The Florida Growers and Shippers League and any
number of growers and shippers will affirm this statement.

Our Market News Specialist contacts the Office of Defense Trans-
portation and the Office of Price Information in the interest of the Florida
fruit and vegetable industry. He is aggressive in trying to protect the
Florida producer, shipper and trucker from unreasonable restrictions of
every type.

In addition to other duties our Market News Specialist answers
daily wire and mail inquiries covering Florida fruits and vegetables.

SERVICES OF LIVESTOCK AND FIELD CROPS SPECIALIST
During the past two years 16 beef cattle (fat and breeder), 22 hog
shows (fat, breeder, Victory sales), 4 horse and mule shows, 7 pasture exhi-
bits, 2 meat exhibits have been held. These shows have included fat cattle
and hogs, breeder cattle and hogs, as well as Victory Hog Shows (to sell
War Bonds). The attendance of interested people at these shows was
19,300 besides the Tampa Fair Livestock Show. During the past two years
possibly 25,500 interested people have availed themselves of the educational
features demonstrated at these livestock shows.
This department has helped get buyers to support all cooperative
sales in the state as well as all hog show sales. There have been 238 hog
sales, handling $1,352,300.00 worth of hogs. Farmer attendance and support
5.390 farmers. The Bureau has been instrumental in helping establish most
of these sales, in obtaining buyers, advising methods of improvement, se-
curing better rates, etc.

The Bureau has had a long time safe program since its days of
inception, has never worked on a hit or miss or guess-at program. Programs

of marketing are planned and thought out carefully, analyzed and made
practical and operative from producer and buyer standpoint, therefore all
planned systems of marketing have worked. This goes for train exhibits,
shows, and all kinds of sales including wool, pecans, hogs, cattle, livestock
auctions, cooperative syrup sales, bull and boar sales, or sales of whatever
nature.

The Bureau helped sponsor the first livestock auctions in the State
and has been an integral part of everyone that has been established that
today is worth anything. We have helped make possible sheds for livestock
shows, livestock sales, more and better buyers, special feeder cattle sales,
and have cooperated with all sales agencies of livestock who were deeply
interested in producers welfare. We have helped these auctions:

By seeking out other possible buyers like garbage hog feeders -
buyers of feeder cattle. By contacting personally, and in meet-
ings of producers, giving the advantages of each system of mar-
keting by circulars to producers, pointing out merits of market
managers and their market advantages. We are ever in contact
with every kind of better livestock buyer.
By helping put on special sales dates for sires, feeder livestock,
Victory sales for Bonds, etc.
Livestock transportation careful handling of livestock, better
rates. Each livestock auction has shown big increases in num-
bers as well as sales for year 1942 over 1940 or 1941. These
auctions have handled a value of from $3,500,000 in 1940 to
$5,356,000 livestock in 1942. More and more people are using
these competitive markets rather than private selling, yet we
have worked with producers and buyers in many private sales
for 35,000 cattle valued at over $1,000,000.

We have cooperated with other agencies in bull sales. There have
been about 3,500 good bulls bought by Florida producers during the past
two years. It's doubtful if any State has made more progress in cattle im-
provement during the past six years than Florida. Our Livestock Marketing
Specialist has been active in sales, meetings, conferences, etc., attended by
some 116,449 persons.

We have ever been mindful that home raised feed is an integral
part of any livestock development, therefore the State Department of Agri-
culture was induced to build (1) a trailer car for better pasture demonstra-
tions, (2) sweet potato shredder which will shred sweet potatoes, pumpkins,
pears, cabbage, carrots, and most root and fruit crops, for feed, (3) meetings
were held to stimulate more interest in growing root crops, corn, oats, rye,
and cover and / or hay crops.

We have (1) recognized the value of agriculture to Florida and
its needs in Florida, and have therefore done everything we could to benefit
same. (2) We have known what to do. (3) we have planned it and done

everything within our power to give service and information on marketing
in its many phases on most every crop in the State. Many circulars and
semi-editorials on different phases of Florida agriculture have been released.
During 1942 livestock auctions handled $5,156,000.00 of livestock
(two years $9,166,000.00 through all auctions) including cattle, calves, hogs,
boars, bulls, stocker and feeder cattle and feeder pigs. The State livestock
auctions handled in 1942 $1,084,729.09; in 1941 $865,000.00, total $1,949,729.09.
Cooperative sales past two years have handled $1,125,000.00, hogs princi-
pally. This includes Chipley and Bonifay which are in the State set-up
but this department got Mr. Mayo to put the money up for the pens at these
two points. Hog sales were held at Williston, Trenton, Bell, Altha, Chipley,
Bonifay, Crestview. The cooperative sales and shows held at Jay were
responsible for building the Jay Livestock Auction. We know the history
of how and why most every Livestock Auction and Cooperative exists in
this State because we were an integral part of their beginning and have
carried on educational work that has helped build up tonnage and services.
ACTIVITIES OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
Holding conferences with growers, shippers and others having
business with the Bureau; handling most of the Bureau correspondence on
almost every conceivable marketing subject; having charge of the Bureau's
responsibility in providing grade and condition inspection at Florida ship-
ping points; being responsible for the general supervision of the extensive
market news project in Florida; preparing most of the editorial copy for the
For Sale, Want and Exchange Bulletin; purchasing principal supplies used
by the Bureau; handling claim work and the preparation of various reports;
and also much of the detail routine for Marketing Specialists and the Com-
missioner while in the field, these many duties account for the fact that the
Assistant Commissioner has not since starting with the Bureau in 1917 taken
one straight regular vacation. In the last 2-year period he has written 11,088
letters; held 1,787 conferences; prepared 30 special articles for State publi-
cations that have been widely used and quoted; advised as to sources of
supplies, reliability of dealers, reputable buyers, and handled claims for
845 persons. Has also helped in selling 742,000 lbs. of sweet potatoes,
22,590 lbs. of turkeys and poultry, 150 cases of eggs, and hundreds of small
lots of pecans, fruits and vegetables. He is perhaps the best authority in
the State on a combination of general agricultural marketing, market news,
inspection and allied subjects.

ECONOMICAL OPERATION
The economical operation of the Bureau, based upon conservative
and conscientious expenditure of State funds, has consistently been a major
objective of the department. The attitude of the Bureau is illustrated by
the following article released in the Bulletin July 15, 1942 by the Assistant
Commissioner:
"Since about 1922 one of the duties of tfhe writer has been the purchasing
of supplies for the State Marketing Bureau. I have been criticized for
not finding means to absorb all the appropriation provided the depart-

ment by the Legislature, -- the grounds for which argument being that
if the appropriation were not entirely used, future allotments would be
reduced. It did not work out that way, however, for it has been said on
the floor of the Florida Senate, 'give that department what it requests,
if they do not need it, they have proved it will be turned back.' The
Bureau turned back to the State in 1932 $5,531.58; in 1933 $501.50; in 1935
$1,651.44; and so on down the line. Appropriation limits have not been
exceeded, nor legal technicalities exercised to take advantage of situations
that might have provided more funds. Not only close competitive pur-
chasing of supplies and equipment, but the time of purchase has made
possible tremendous savings, in some instances enough to reimburse the
State for much of my salary. It may sound rather strange to some, but
in twenty-five years with the Bureau, I have never been offered a bribe,
consideration or concession of any sort by any salesman or firm, soliciting
or receiving orders. It seems to be rather well known around that any
firm even remotely hinting at such irregularity would be placed on the
blacklist with this office indefinitely.

In view of prospects for decreased revenue to the State and in line
with the sentiment of Members of the Governor's Cabinet, the Bureau
promptly and willingly agreed to reduce by 10,r the total appropriation for
the year ending June 30, 1943. The department foresaw shortages and
higher prices, and purchased replacement equipment and supplies in ad-
vance of the restrictions later imposed incident to the war effort, much to
the saving of State funds, and the unimpairment of our service. We exer-
cised other economy procedure, such as issuing poultry and egg reports
each Tuesday and Friday with previous intervening daily prices included,
instead of daily, reducing the expense of paper, ink, postage and incidentals
66%'/'. We changed the classification of listings in the Bulletin, carrying
single offerings under appropriate heading with line limitation, and multiple
offerings under the miscellaneous heading, which saved the duplicate listing
of name and address if all items classified separately. This reduced the
Bulletin average from six to four pages, and meant considerable saving to the
State. The Bureau office hours start at 8:30, only one hour allowed for lunch
during which a stagger system is used so the office remains open during the
noon hour, and the office is usually open from 8:00 to 5:30, and often later.
Our field force has filled as many schedules as possible, traveling together,
and this item of expense has been reduced all possible. Other savings and
economies could be mentioned, but at the risk maybe of dull reading. We
think it worthy of mention that alternates were trained within our force
to handle at least temporarily mechanical and other specialized assignments
in event of employees being called for military duty or resigning for more
lucrative positions.
The following is a detailed statement of expenditures made from
appropriation for the Bureau for as much of the Biennial period July 1,
1941 July 1, 1943 as is possible in view of the preparation of this Report
prior to the session of the 1943 Florida Legislature: (The Governor and
Cabinet have a more detailed report of expenditures made in the last bien-
nium and estimated for the 1943-45 biennium available in our report to the
Budget Commission submitted on schedule Nov. 15, 1942.)

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
There have been 26 marketing and shipping seasons since the
Marketing Bureau was established. All Florida soil products produced and
harvested during this 26-year period have an approximate total value of
$3,500,000,000. Agricultural sales and purchases during that time have
amounted to no less than $2,500,000,000. We believe that the Marketing
Bureau has rendered some kind of beneficial service on more than $2,000,-
000,000 of these sales and purchases, or an average for the entire 26
seasons of approximately $80,000,000 a year. At present we are touching,
with market news, inspection, services of the Marketing Specialists, "For
Sale, Want & Exchange Bulletin," marketing advice and assistance, and
helping in the sale and purchase of commodities valued at no less than
$175,000,000 a year, and we are proud of the record.
My duties as Commissioner, and Secretary of the Agricultural
Marketing Board, are both office and field work, advisory and supervisory.
Since the Bureau opened office July 2, 1917, I have unceasingly done, to the
best of my ability, all it has been humanly possible for me to do. I have
been invited to attend many more meetings and to make far more speeches
than was possible. Since I have been Marketing Commissioner, I have
traveled more than 1,000,000 miles and made no less than 2,600 speeches.
I shall not prolong this report to give a detailed summary of my activities
for after a long period of honest and faithful service to the State, I feel that
my efforts are well known and my record established. I have given the best
administration at my command to the sane, conservative, constructive and
reputable functioning of the Florida State Marketing Bureau. I have helped
plan the field work of the Marketing Specialists, and have generally super-
vised the many features of work done by the Bureau. I have handled
largely the public relations, important conferences and official interviews
in both the office and over the State at large, and these have been numerous
and exacting in the time allowed.
During the twenty-five and one-half years that I have been
Commissioner of the Florida State Marketing Bureau, I have tried to guide
it by conservative principles of business and not arbitrary action, and to
assist in securing for Florida growers and shippers the opportunity to earn
a sufficient profit on the sale of their product to make them happier and
their lives richer. Impressed with the need of getting the most food in the
least space to our soldiers overseas and our allies, I have given every assist-
ance and cooperation to production and marketing food supplies produced
in Florida. I secured the immediate reconsideration -of a North Florida
application for dehydration unit, which the Press announced January 5th
would be established.
The foregoing Thirteenth Biennial Report of the Florida State
Marketing Bureau is respectfully submitted, with the understanding that
any supplementary data will be cheerfully supplied on request.
Very respectfully yours,
L. M. RHODES,
Commissioner,
Florida State Marketing Bureau.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT
of the
FLORIDA STATE MARKETING BUREAU
Expenditures from July 1, 1941 to Jan. 1, 1943

For Period July 1, 1941 to July 1, 1942
APPROPRIATION for year ending July 1, 1942 ...... $75.834.00
CREDIT on sale of old equipment ......................... .... 101.00
TOTAL AVAILABLE .-- ------.... ....--------...............................-----------------.....---......... $75,935.00
EXPENDITURES (12 months)

SALARIES
NECESSARY & REGULAR EXPENSES:
PRINTING ........ .... -..- $4,883.09
Maintenance of equipment and supplies, such
as paper, envelopes, ink, etc., for issuing
daily market reports, bulletins, etc.
ADDRESSOGRAPH ...... 183.41
Upkeep and supplies.
POSTAGE 2,896.34
General office mail, semi-monthly bulletins,
market reports, daily mail reports from
Miami, Tampa and 8 road guard stations,
miscellaneous.
TELEGRAPH 1,629.44
General office, leased wire maintenance,
special field station relays, etc.
STATIONERY & OFFICE SUPPLIES .- 1,155.53
Office equipment, rating agency subscrip-
tions, trade directories, typewriters, station-
ery, ink, stencils, water, miscellaneous.
TELEPHONE 616.11
Monthly regular, and long distance.
TRAVELING EXPENSES 8,671.84
Commissioner and 4 Marketing Specialists,
field duties.
RENTAL 2,400.00
Jacksonville offices.

MARKET NEWS
Daily reports, 8 field stations, general
overhead expenses.
CREDIT CARRIED FORWARD to year July

12,510.75

34,946.51 70,766.51
1, 1942-July 1, 1943 $ 5,168.49

$35,820.00

For Period July 1, 1942 to Jan. 1, 1943
APPROPRIATION for year ending July 1, 1943 ...-
Unexpended balance brought forward from 1941-42

Less 101'/ reduction total appropriation
requested by Governor's Cabinet ...........

Credit on sale of old equipment ..-- -----.---..-.............
TOTAL AVAILABLE ..........................................................................

Expenditures (6 months)

SALARIES -----------.. --.............-------.......... $16,298
NECESSARY & REGULAR EXPENSES:
PRINTING .-.-----..... $3,150.97
ADDRESSOGRAPH --..... 10.87
POSTAGE ............ .. 538.10
TELEGRAPH ... ..... .... .. 415.88
STATIONERY & OFFICE SUPPLIES 648.14
TELEPHONE ........................... .... 278.20
TRAVELING EXPENSES --.... 1,851.09
RENTAL --_................ ..... ......... 1,200.00
MARKET NEWS --- .......... 4,120.72 12,213
CREDIT BALANCE AVAILABLE
For remaining six months period January-June 1943

.75

.97 28,512.72

$44,470.53

$75,834.00
5,168.49
$81,002.49

8,100.24
$72,902.25
81.00
$72,983.25