—Lancaster Fannins, Saturday, May 6,1978 30 March food basket prices up 8 cents HARRISBURG - Penn sylvania’s average retail food basket cost the con sumer eight cents more in March than in February, according to the monthly food basket survey report released today by Agriculture Secretary Kent Shelhamer. Shelhamer said that the statewide average of 14 food products sampled in rural and urban stores was $10.89 compared to $lO.Bl in Leadership conferences set READING - The first session of the 4-H Public Affairs Leadership Program was conducted recently at the Berks County Agricultural Center, near here. Nineteen youths from Berks County participated in this first of three all-day sessions. During the 7% hour day, topics such as group building, clarification, goal planning, role negotiation and com munity functions were discussed in depth. Even the luncheon was designed into an exercise of task management. At the meeting, officers were elected and installed as follows: president, Karen R. Sattazahn of Womelsdorf; vice-president, Clay Henry of 110 Werstler Avenue in Gilbertsville: secretary, Susan Beth Stallone of 65 Cardinal Road in Wyomissing; and news reporter, Timothy J. Frei of 1649 Westwood Road in Wyomissing. The advisors for the group are: Barbara Stratton, Extension assistant - pulblic affairs leadership; Dr. W. Harry Schaffer, Community Resourse Development agent of the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension February. “The March survey a second straight month of food price u> creases after a seven month decline,” Shelhamer said. “This reflects seasonal changes in supply patterns as well as a five-cent in crease in the cost of coffee.” Food basket costs had risen 32 cents in February after reacing a record high last July at $10.96. The monthly survey, conducted by the Service; and Mae D. Bleiler, Extension home economist. Their next meeting will be Saturday, May 13. They plan to have elected and ap pointed government officials present to discuss local government operations. The major objectives of the 4-H Public Affairs Leadership Program are to teach a process for group leadership, to develop an awareness of community services and operations, and to encourage participants to become future community leaders. The program is being sponsored by the Berks County Cooperative Extension Service of tne Pennsylvania State University. values The trucking industry’s safety record has seen a steady decrease in accident rates in the past three decades. The near com pleted Interstate System where the fatality rate is half that of non-interstate systems, has contributed to this improved safety record. Estimates based on data obtained from state highway authorities and the Department of Tran sportation show accidents for tractor semi-trailers at 4.70 per million miles compared to 11.36 for passenger cars. Agriculture Department’s Bureau of Rural Affairs, compared the prices of 14 sample “food basket” items in rural and urban stores and is aimed at providing con sumers with retail food price trend information. According to the survey, the average food basket price in March was highest in the northwestern part of the state at $11.14. Lowest prices were recorded in the northcentral region of the state where the food basket cost an average of $10.65. Four of the six regions showed food price increases during the month, with the greatest increase in the southwest central region where the cost of the food basket rose 51 cents. Prices declined 33 cents from February to March in the Puzzled again this year? This year you could take a ance on a bulk-blend fertilizer. Or, you could rely on a premium granular formulation from Farmers' Fertilizer. Farmers' Fertilizer will mix a formulation especially suited for the type of soil on your farm, and for the crops you grow. That way, you'll get exactly what you need in basic N, P, K. Plus you'll get these benefits from the new premium formulations. • Important secondary plant nutrients to beef-up your soil. • At least three forms of nitrogen for better yields. • Low calcium carbonate content to protect soil pH and reduce liming costs. ** Starter row fertilizer contains 100% mono-ammonium phosphate for less seed damage. When you visit Farmers' Fertilizer, you won't have to wonder if you made the right decision for all your spring fertilizer and ag chemical needs. - Farmers' Fertilizer Works, Inc. 365 W. Bainbridge St. Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022 Phone: 717-367-1211 Contact us or one of these sales representatives in your area Kenneth Mast Farms R° 2 Parkesburg. PA 19365 215-857-9216 717-867-2611 717-867-1400 Roy W. Zimmerman & Sons, Inc. 1661 Rohrerstown Rd Lancaster, PA 17601 ' 717-569-2361 717-733-8161 northeastern region of the state. The difference in the cost of the food basket purchased in urban and rural stores stood at 2.51 per cent. The food basket cost an average of $10.77 in urban super markets compared to $11.04 in rural stores. The spread between namebrand and Storebrand items decreased to about 10 per cent during the survey period. A comparison of eight of the 14 food basket items showed the average price of namebrand items to be $7.92 while the same Storebrand items cost only $7.12. February figures had shown a 92 cent or 12 per cent difference, between Storebrand and namebrand items. Items increasing in cost LH. Brubaker. Inc. LeStef I Weaver Powl's Feed Service 350 Strasburg Pike New Holland, PA 17557 _ . _ 2 Lancaster, PA 717-354-5477 Peach Bottom, PA-17563 717-397-5179 215-286-5337 717-548-2376 during the March survey cheese, from $1.63 to $1.66 a include fresh pears, up from pound. 47 to 48 cents, a pounds items, which decreased in coffee, from $3.32 to $3.37 a cost were cabbage, from 29 pound; bread, from 37 to 38 to 24 cents a pound; canned cents a pound loaf; com- peaches, from 36 to 35 cents flakes, from 66 to 67 cents a a pound; and eggs, from 83 pound; whole chicken, from to 81 cents a dozen large 58 to 59 cents a pound; eggs. Potatoes, canned com ground beef, from $1.06 to and sugar all remained $1.09 a pound; and American about the same in cost. FISHER SPRAY PAINTERS (Henry K. Fisher Inc.) SANDBLASTING and SPRAY PAINTING INTERIOR and EXTERIOR - Aerial Ladder Equipment Office 4 Shop - 667 Hartman Station Rd. Residence - 2322 Old Philadelphia Pike Lancaster, Penna. For FREE Estimates Call 717-393-6530 Daniel L. Esh Box 203 Intercourse, PA 17534 axd Van-Mar Feeds, Inc. Box 303 Shoemakersville, PA 19555 215-926-2121