. TIE VALLEY SETTLER is published
* every Friday by the Matanuska
Valley Farmer's Cooperative
Association at Palmer, Alaska.
Mng. Editor: Marie Wilsori
Subscription rates; ’ fl.OO year
By amil; 1.75 year
Mailed anywhere;_ 10^ copy
This paper is issued for the pur
pose of giving information and
news of the Matanuska Valley
Farmer's Cooperating Associations
work, p r ob 1 cms, accompli.: hmc nt s,
and also, news of local and gen
eral interest; and to help foster
the cooperative spirit of the
farmers of the Matanuska Valley.
THE MEAT SITUATION
Certain members of’ the Farmers
Co-op seem to feel, and many have
asked the question, why the big
difference in price to the farmer
and’price over the counter, for
our local meat? I hope we can
explain this situation to your
satisfaction.
In the past, meat was moat, in.
fact so?ne pretty poor stuff was
sold for neat much to the detri
ment of our trade name. There
seemed to be no distinction be
tween proor meat and good, meat.
However the farmer needed money
'and in many cases was unable to
fatten his animals.
But the time ha's come for a chango
and one has been made. The Co-op
has taken over the management
andcontrol of the retail meat
Department in the Trading Post.
In the future our Co-op management
will pay the farmer every cent
possible for his meat. All meat
bought by the meat Department
must be bought according to grades.
This is only fair to the man
who has spent time, money and
labor to fatten an animal and
put it in condition for market,
.he man who brings in a poor
grade of meat should expect a
poor price. An old thin tuff
cow certainly won t bring very
much money so don't expect a
premium.
Recently.meat has boon bought
from the farmer who was paid
for the dressed carcase, later
the same carcase wag sold with
the bone removed, naturally in
this case there was a noticable
difference in the two prices.
The Co-op can not bo expected
(to pay'-you for something they
'have to throw away.
The Co-op management took
charge of the retail meat De
partment Wednesday, Nov. 15.
In the future if you have any c
complaint to make please find
out the truth first.
There has also, been some dis
atisfaction with tbe pool .
system. Under the present
situation it would seem that the
pool system would be the best
..for the farmer. All members
nay not agree with me.on this.
With the pool.system the pro
ducer will share in all the pro
fits. And if the Co-op can sell
your neat for more than they
expect to, you.will receive an
additional payment for your
produce. And I believe that is
the aim of a Co-op ip the first
place; to obtain the highest
price possible for the producer.
Use your own judgement, and if
there is any member who docs not
want all he is intitlcd to -
well, I’m here and Christmas
is just around .the corner.
Executive --"I i'll' bet- you don't
know what good honest
work is. "
Farmer— " No sir, what good is
it? "