The Mahnomen Pioneer

SPUD CO-OP HAS
13,000 MEMBERS

LATE SEASON
AND
FEAR
OF
EARLY FREEZE-UP BOOSTS EX-
CHANGE MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Minnesota Potato Growers Exchange this week passed 13,000, according to word from St. Paul. This is an increase of nearly 700 since the campaign closed this spring.

The low market and the fear of an early freeze-up is helping the Exchange's growth, according to Walter Oby of Detroit, secretary-treasurer of the Exchange.

"With prices down as low as 18 cents a bushel and no where more than 45 cents a hundred for graded stock, growers realize that they have everything to gain and nothing to lose by joining the association," said Mr. Oby. "In carrying out our orderly marketing program, we are selling few potatoes on the present market and conditions are developing so that we will be obliged to hold even a larger amount of potatoes than we contemplated several weeks ago. Negotiations are now pending which will give us storage for 5,000 to 7,000 cars in the big terminal markets at a cost that is less than half the regular rates."

Exchange officials are urging members to dig all of their potatoes as quickly as possible. An early freeze-up would result in the loss of thousands of acres of potatoes, because no where, especially in the Valley sections, have farmers been able to get their spuds out of the ground. The late season and wet weather has prevented field work for some time.

"Exchange members," says S. G. Rubinow, general manager, "are fortunate this year. Non-members are obliged to sell for little or nothing, store the crop at home or let it freeze in the ground. We are prepared to accept and store all potatoes delivered by our members."