Hon. GEORGE M. GRANT, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. MARVIN BERRY CO., Edison, Calif., April 22, 1957. MY DEAR MR. GRANT: We are one of the largest potato growers and shippers in the State of California and we wish to file with you our protest against all of the national potato grade labeling bills now before your committee. We have many reasons for being opposed to this and our main No. 1 reason is that there are so many rules and regulations that we are now operating under that we do not know whether we are coming or going. Also, a national law could not possibly fit all sections of these United States as what is good for one section is not always good for the other part, and we are dealing in a commodity that is 100 percent dependent upon the acts of God as to the weather. Will you please file our protest against this act. MARVIN BERRY. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. HAROLD D. COOLEY, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am enclosing herewith two telegrams from constituents opposing the so-called potato grading legislation currently under consideration by your committee. As you probably recall I have had considerable experience in matters relating to the production, handling and distribution of potatoes. From what I have seen of the measure now pending it could have serious effects upon growers of early potatoes. I am very much disturbed to observe that this kind of legislation is being sponsored by the National Potato Council and is represented as in the interest of potato growers generally. It seems most unfortunate that the Congress is asked to enact legislation favoring producers of late potatoes at the expense of producers of the more perishable early potatoes. When the National Potato Council or any other organization promotes cleavage among the people it is supposed to represent, it does a disservice. I feel that I must voice strong opposition to this type of legislation and hope that your committee will not favorably report it. Sincerely yours, Hon. PORTER HARDY, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: PORTER HARDY, JR. NORFOLK, VA., April 16, 1957. We and our associates opposed any changes in the rules and regulations now in effect with respect to grading of potatoes and respectfully request your opposition before the committee on Senate bills 1315, 1393, H. R. 4963, 5108, 5133, 5137, 5274, 5339, 5449, 5764, 5934. BATTAGLIA PRODUCE SHIPPERS. NORFOLK, VA., April 16, 1957. Hon. PORTER HARDY, JR., House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Regarding bills now before committee, Senate bills 1315, 1393, H. R. 4963, 5108, 5133, 5137, 5274, 5339, 5449, 5764, 5934, we and our many associated potato growers are strongly opposed to any changes and want the present rules and regulations to remain in effect. FARMERS POTATO DISTRIBUTING CO. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., April 16, 1957. CHAIRMAN, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, The executive committee of the New Jersey State Potato Association has gone on record favoring the passage of the National Potato Grade Labeling Act be cause it would (1) remove the undesirable poor quality potatoes below No. 2 grade from the market; (2) require growers and shippers to label potatoes correctly and prevent misbranding; (3) reduce recurring costly surpluses. We believe these changes are highly desirable to help stabilize a chronically sick industry. JOHN C. CAMPBELL, Secretary, New Jersey State Potato Association. COLUMBUS, OHIO, April 11, 1957. Congressman GEORGE M. GRANT, Chairman, Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing, House Agriculture Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Ohio is represented in the National Potato Council, but is vigorously opposed to the national potato grade labeling bill. Preparing written report for official record and would like time for verbal testimony. Either R. E. Weingart, president, Ohio Potato Growers Association or myself will testify April 15 or 16. V. E. EUGENE KEIRNS, Manager, Ohio Potato Growers Association. ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., April 15, 1957. Representative HERBERT C. BONNER, Washington, D. C.: We as a potato shipper of North Carolina urge you to use your influence in defeating the passage of the following: S. 1393, S. 1315, H. R. 4963, 5137, 5108, 5449, 5934, 5133, 5274, 5339, 5764. These bills pertain to marketing of potatoes and it is our very strong opinion that these bills would be grossly unfair and unjust to all States coming under the heading of new or early potato-growing States. We are against compulsory inspection or marketing agreements under Federal jurisdiction which could come about should these bills be passed favorably. We cannot urge you too strongly to help us preserve our potato industry in our State. ROBERTS BROS., GEORGE M. GRANT, SPRINGDALE, ARK., April 15, 1597. Chairman, Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing, I want to protest canning potatoes No. 3's and No. 4's coming under H. R. 6409. They should be exempt from the bill because the canning industry provides potato growers a market for potatoes that are not desirable for the fresh market due to the size. These small potatoes which we call creamers have a place in the economic condition of our country and the main thing about these small potatoes is that they have to be processed within 48 to 60 hours from the time they are harvested in order to pack a quality potato. If these potatoes were placed under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture by the time the canners could get them released the farmers would loose their entire crop. JOE M. STEELE, Steele Canning Co. Representative HERBERT C. BONNER, CURRITUCK, N. C., April 16, 1957. Washington, D. C.: Request your assistance in defeating the following legislations, S. 1393, S. 1315, H. R. 4963, 5137, 5108, 5449, 5934, 5133, 5274, 5339, 5764, since passage of same in the present form could work hardship on potato-producing areas of North Carolina. CURRITUCK EXCHANGE. Hon. HERBERT C. BONNER, ELIZABETH CITY, N. C., April 16, 1957. House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: We, an organization made up of over 100 potato growers, urge you to use your influence to prevent any of the following Senate bills S. 1393, S. 1315 or House of Representatives bills H. R. 4963, 5137, 5108, 5449, 5934, 5133, 5274, 5339, 5764, from becoming legislation. We feel that any of these bills could do great harm not only to our State but to all early potato growing States. ROBERT MARKHAM, Weeksville Vegetable Growers Association, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SLATINGTON, PA., April 16, 1957. Agricultural Committee, Washington, D. C.: A public meeting sponsored by the Pennsylvania Potato Institute held at the Lehigh Valley Auditorium, Allentown, Pa., April 12 with approximately 200 persons present, 69 votes were cast, 24 in favor and 45 opposed to the present National Grade and Labeling Act, Senate bill No. 1393, House bill No. 5934. The Pennsylvania Potato Institute as a result of this poll goes on record as opposing the proposed legislation and respectfully requests recognition of the wishes of its membership. ROY T. WOTRING, Jr., Secretary, Pennsylvania Potato Institute. Hon. GEORGE M. GRANT VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. GRANT: I am a member of the Ohio Vegetable & Potato Growers Association, proprietor of 2 farms, 1 in Wayne County and 1 in Cuyahoga. You have under consideration a proposed act of Congress to compel all producers of potatoes to grade, label, and offer for sale to consumers only U. S. 1 and U. S. 2 grade potatoes as a Federal law. By this act, Congress will strengthen the growth of power in a central government and diversely weaken State and local government. This is serious but not the sorriest part of this particular act. This act will give advantage in the market place to growers in Maine, California, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, and Oregon, where climate and soils are most beneficial for the production of high quality potatoes. It will do this by Federal force and the use of tax funds partially supplied by growers in the States which are by acts of nature not so favored. It will enrich these particular growers and impoverish those in the State of Ohio where the consumer now decides what a fair price for quality is, at the retail level, where brands of potatoes from all areas are well displayed, well marked, and naturally competitive on the basis of economic equality. This is all controlled now by adequate Federal pure food, grade, transportation and fair trade laws, the administration and enforcement of which is a cost to the taxpayer. Ohio producers have seen their sales of celery, head lettuce, carrots and canning crops disappear under the competition of the western grower on the basis of consumer selection of quality and without Federal Government interference. We have not quibbled over these acts of natural supply and demand, by economical determination. We did not call on Congress to spend tax dollars in any way to prevent the natural from happening. We do not believe potatoes in Ohio or any other State are any different than other foods in this respect. The total taxes on our farm are now greater than the income to the owner. This reminds us of our early American history in which the Boston Tea Party played a dramatic role. In my experience, which predates the enactment of the "emergency" income tax law for 1913, I have yet to see where governmental planning, control and interference has benefited anyone on the land, or for that part the consumer in the market place. You have a great responsibility to perform as American legislators to preserve the free competitive forces of our Nation which are alone the strength of our people for survival. A true unbiased analysis of the total testimony before you now, submitted by both sides, reveals the present trend of producers and distributors to correct the potato problem by private means of reasonable service to the consumer under the identification conditions of the proposed act. Given as much time as that required to put this proposed legislation into effect, these private activities will resolve the problem with reason and equality. Respectfully yours, WALTER F. PRETZER. Congressman GEORGE M. GRANT, BADGER VEGETABLE GROWERS COOPERATIVE, Chairman, Marketing Subcommittee of House Committee on Agriculture, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: On behalf of this organization, and speaking personally, I request your wholehearted oppositon to the proposed National Potato Grade Labeling Act. The title is deceiving, the purpose selfish, and the very act of its administration would be a severe limitation upon our rights of self-determination. Respectfully yours, GUILBERT PIPER, President. NEW HAMPSHIRE FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, Congressman GEORGE M. GRANT, Chairman, Domestic Marketing Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN GRANT: We are taking this occasion to write you briefly relative to the thoughts of our potato growers on the National Potato Grade Labeling Act. Last summer the Farm Bureau held a field day and meeting in the northern part of our State where the bulk of our potatoes in New Hampshire are grown. This meeting was attended by some of the growers from the southern part of the State and there was a discussion of the general proposal for a National Potato Grade Labeling Act. It was the general opinion of the potato growers at this meeting that such legislation was not desirable. I have been reading the testimony presented to your committee by Mr. Matt Triggs of the American Farm Bureau Federation, and it is apparent that the thinking of our growers is in concurrence on practically all points and maybe all points presented by Mr. Triggs. I am sure that you and your committee members have studied Mr. Triggs' report and presentation quite carefully and, if so, you have a fine presentation of the thoughts of the potato growers who attended our summer meeting. I am confident that they represent, quite well, the thinking of most potato growers in New Hampshire, and we would hope that the action of your subcommittee would be to not recommend the National Potato Grade Labeling Act. Vigorously opposed to National Grade Labeling Act. Greater use of State laws in State and Federal marketing agreements would accomplish purpose. In my opinion this is a matter which requires no legislation but merely enforcement of existing State and Federal laws. C. A. DOBLER, General Manager, Bluebell Potato Chip Co. (Whereupon, at 5:05 p. m., the subcommittee adjourned, subject to the call of the Chair.) |