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F/U3R, ALASKA_ . . .... . _ t Dorothy 11. frail, yEditgr
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Published- svery w&old-..at ?al:norA Matahurka Galley farmer3f Cooperating
Association for'the pusp'oe* '6f*giying news of the As vocations 'fork, Problemstand
Accgmplishments, as well as News of general interest-to the Vail
£U~‘!5C?.I~'TTCi~ RATS 31.75 ner voar_
EDITOR ON VACATION ^
I rill be on vacation for the next two months, July and August, and during that time
Visa Elsie Jeffers will edit and publish the Valley Settlor, Miss Jeffers has 'been
helping with the pancr the past two weeks in order to become accustomed to the routine
and work necessary in publishing the paper. I know that you will give her the same
cooperation that you h&ve given me during the past three years.
My original plan was to fly to Minneapolis about the first of July and visit ny par
ents and relatives in Minnesota and Iowa., Erom there I ospoctod to-go to California
with my daughter and visit my two brothers who live there. Howevor, during the -oast
rook'I have had to change my elans considerably.' Due to circumstances beyond ny con- 4
’rcl, I an not ablo to leavd at the present time, but I do hope to bo able to make
the trip sometime during these next two months. This is tho only opportunity I s’vall
have to pot away as Miss Jeffors must go to work in the school Office.in September.
Until. I leave, I shall be around I'almer and whether I take a trip or not, I plan to bo
beck in the Dottier Office in Soptcnber.
Yours very truly, '
Dorothy M. Bell, Editor
Green stuff from "outside" farms is now being flown to Alaskan’s doorsteps according
to an article in"fhe Frontiersman".
Ray Henderson has made arrangements for a twice-weekly shipment of fresh fruits and
vegetables from Seattle to Anchorage and he plans to fly the hard-to-get items to out
lying areas in Alaska. At present Hr. Henderson is delivering shipments to Nome and
to cities in the Interior, and plans to ertend-the sdne service to the Kenai Peninsula.
He will ^riug hds flying vegetable market into Kenai, Kasilof, Ninilchik and Seldovia
on a weekly schedule.
Ivlr. Henderson stated that he already had contracted to deliver produce to Seldovia
Cannery Cook Houses, but he will also take orders from local housewives who have a ’
marketing list to fill. He plans to bring all fresh fruit and vegetables in season,
as well as farm-fresh eggs.
Every year we have emphasized quality and dependability to Co-op vegetable farmers'
and we are repeating it this year with still more emphasis. Every year the coirroeti
tion gets keener and we will either have to meet this competition with quality and
dependability or get out of the market.
If the Matanuska Valley Farmers lose the Alaskan markets to competitors—there will'
be no one to blame, but themselves. T7e have had the ground floor for several years.
Tie have had backing to get on our feet. 77e have had everything to our advantage so
far that can be given to farmers.' Now it is up to the farmers'themselves to get and
hold their.markets.
Too many potential dairymen have used the Produce liarket as a stepping stone to get
on their feet producing milk. There is no harm *in this—if the demand is big enough
and they meet the standards set up by Vegetable Producers who plan to continue in
this field. But—it is unfair if they insist on pushing all kinds of inferior pro
ducts On the market which will ruin the market for everyone. The Vegetable men need
to tighten their ranks to prevent this type of marketing.‘ The time has come when
the Vegetable growers, if they intend to continue as such, must bend every effort to
put top quality produce on the market and seo to‘it that everyone producing vogetalbes
for sale through their Association does likewise.
There is no reason why the States should supply any of the fresh produce that can be
raised in Alaska at this time of the year, Alaskan products can compete in quality
and flavor with anything that can be produced anywhere. Cont. on page 5.