Consumers now ready Hendricks also explained that the questionnaire is being used as a tool in a comprehensive effort to identify ways fanners and consumers can work together. “The results of this project, have set the stage for concrete action,” he said. According to the questionnaire, which was distributed by teams of farm couples who traveled to major metropolitan centers inthe U.S., a majority of consumers are seeking changes in the food system. Many of the consumers seemed to be calling for a “no frills simplemarket” as an alternative to the supermarket. An overwhelming majority favor less con venience preparation and packaging and want more bulk purchasing. Similarly, more than 70 per cent want less service and more price competition in food processing and retailing. Less government regulation WASHINGTON. D.C. - Aii Whelming number of ngpers see joint action fanners as a major step the nation’s Astern, according to a inwide survey of 2500 -aers. , ,lts of the survey ;ed by the Agriculture ~1 of America were iced here recently by ~ Hendricks, an lowa lynian and ACA Chair- ‘Consumers all over the • are very concerned , the price, quality and itional value of food that jes the supermarket,” idncks said. They are looking for itions and are anxious to ■k with the food producer do something about the lation. I am particularly •ouraged by the fact that per cent say they feel the •rests of farmers and isumers are similar' mgh to wrrant hoint ac tt 80-HP JOHN DEERE 4030 The sm of our biggest may be the right size for you Eighty horsepower is a nice power size for any number of farm tasks And our 4030 is a really nice package to house that power It’s built to deliver furrow-ripping pull power all day long, day after day But because it’s so compact, you can make full use of its potential m a wide array of smaller farm tasks Stop m for the full story on the 4030 It has all the features that have made Sound-Idea™ tractors such a sound, long-term investment JOHN DEERE TRACTORS- A SOUND, LONG-TERM INVESTMENT Finish field work fast with a mounted 1600 Chisel P10w... see us Stir and mix soil and trash. Choose working widths from Bto 20 feet, and rigid or optional V V spring trip standards that compress as much as V 10 inches to slide over obstructions. Landis Bros. Inc. Lancaster 717-393-3906 Adamstown Equipment Inc. Mohnton.RDZ, PA 19540 [near Adamstown] 215-414-4391 Pikevilie Equipment inc. Oyster Dale Road OIeyRD2.PA 215-917-6277 in food production ana processing was cited by 42 per cent as a way to cut food costs, although written comments indicated wide support for health and safety standards. A large majority of con sumers are apparently dissatisfied with food prices, and 90 per cent see more direct farm to consumer marketing as a possibility for cutting costs. But in addition to food costs, the quality and nutritional value of food is a big concern. Less than half said they were satisfied with the quality and nutritional value of food, and written comments on the questionnaire served to emphasize their concern. One man wroter, “We’d probably fare better eating the package and throwing the food away.” Dissatisfaction to a large degree seemed to be directed to what consumers ap parently feel are over - processed and highly - 310 LEVEL-ACTION DISK Designed for deep work and tough conditions with up to 160 pounds weight per blade Here’s an ideal disk for primary tillage Weight of 123 to 159 pounds per blade lets you cut deep and fast Choose working widths from 11 Vz to nearly 15 feet Level-Action disk features abound front gangs overlap to cut away the center balk, offset rear gangs pull in the same amount of soil the front gangs move out. then feather it into a smooth surface There’s more l See us M. S. Yearsley & Sons Westchester 215-696-2990 Shetzberger's Equipment Dm, PA 717-665-2141 A.B.C. Groff, inc. New Holland 717-354-4191 I. G.'s Ag Sales SKverdale, PA 15962 215-257-5136 Survey shows to work with farmers adevertised “empty foods.” Although a slim majority opposed reducing the variety and number of food items carried by supermarkets, written comments indicated that many want more uprocessed foods. A Berkeley respondent said, “There’s too much plastic food and preservatives. I’m concerned with the lack of variety of fresh foods.” Opinions about trade were also asked for on the questionnaire. A slim majority of consumers favored food experts, and an almost equal number said farm export dicisions should be made by fanners. “There seems to be a great deal of confusion on some aspects of ithe trade issue,” Hendricks said. “For example, cross tabulation of the data shows that among those people who oppose farm exports, a large majority say farmers should make farm export decisions.” Agway, Inc. Chapman Equipment Center Chapman, PA 215-398-2553 Neuhaus’es, Inc. Glen Rock, PA 717-235-1306 Stanley A. Klopp, Inc. BemviOe, PA 215-40-1510 Kermit K. Kistler, Inc. Lynnport, PA 215-298-3270 Lancaster Farming. Saturday. March 19.1977—115 Consumers are about evenly split on the question of restriction the importation of food products that are cheaper because they are "subsidized by foreign governments, with 43 per cent in favor of restriction and 40 per cent opposing it. A cross - tabulation of questions relating to trade indicateds that opinions are split on ideological grounds of either “free trade” or, as one man said, “America first - the heck with foreigners.” Among those who opposed exports, the sentiment, as judged from written com ments, tended to be anti foreigner, anti-communist or nationalistic. One man wrote, “Let them eat oil,” while another commented “Let the Russians eat Communism.” Referring to the com ments, Hendricks said they often were valuable in analyzing he computerized data. He also pointed out that the questionnaire did not emply a rigid statistical and demographics! approach because it was seen as an extension of the direct communications by the teams of farm couples who visited the cities polled. The relatively large sample also increased the questionnaires Know Where the Activities Will Be? Read the Farm Women Calendar. distributed were completed and returned. This 12.5 per cent response is particularly high, as most questionnaires have a one to three per cent response rate average. Ibe fact • finding tour and distribution of the questionnaires were preceded by a National Conference last November, at which time 40 prominent farm qnd consumer leaders began identifying potential areas of agreement. One outgrowth of the attempt so far has been the formation of a “Farmer - Consumer Roundtable” that will seek solutions to problems con fronting fanners and con sumers on a continuing basis. The Roundtable members, including farm and national consumer organization represin tatives, have already begun planning a major national conference for April 6 and 7 in Washington, D.C. Several topics that offer promise for joint action have already been identified, and they will be further explored at the April conference. The conference is expected to identify, more specifically, areas of cooperation and to provide the understanding and impetus necessary for farmers and consumers to work together on a regular basis.
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