The Gary American

"Don't Be Alarmed;
Still Time To Plant!"

INDIANAPOLIS. "There's still time to plant a victory garden," said Perry S. Richey, district representative of the Indiana District Office of Supply, WFA, Indianapolis, this week. "Many vegetables may be planted late and still produce a good crop. All the food that can be produced this summer is urgently needed to fill the civilian requirements through the fall and winter months ahead.

"Both home and industrial gardens are needed," he said. "While the total prospective 1945-46 supply of canned fruits and vegetables about equals that of last year, supplies for civilians will average 25% less, and increased war needs may reduce this amount still further.

"The greatest shortages will be felt in the so-called 'Big Four' among canned vegetables beans, peas, corn, and tomatoes which normally account for 65% of commercial canning operations. Canned tomatoes for civilian trade are not expected to exceed 50% of last year, and expected cuts in civilian supplies of canned beans, peas and corn range from 25% to 40%. Next winter may be a critical time for canned foods, unless victory gardens fill the gap. For example, WFA has increased the set aside on canned peas from 40% to 43%.

"To insure sufficient civilian food supplies for next winter," he added. "we must not only raise more and bigger victory gardens, but we must preserve their produce. Every community cannery should be kept open. Every homemaker who has access to canning facilities should can fruits and vegetables to the limit of her family's need. Every school should organize its complete facilities for production and preservation. With the great need for food in the world today, it is important that we supplement commercially canned foods with the maximum of home grown and canned produce."

Sugar supplies are down, but most victory garden crops do not