Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA
1932 - Egg Auctions are Popular

Provide Supply of Graded and Inspected Eggs to Customers.

Eleven months operation of the egg auction conducted at Doylestown by the Bucks county co-operative producers' association will be summarized by farm market analysts of the Greater Pennsylvania council, for the benefit of egg-producing groups throughout the state, who may wish to plan similar enterprises.

William R. Whitacre and John F. Ross, the council analysts, have just completed a study of the Doylestown project, started nearly a year ago by the Bucks county group with the co-operation of the state bureau of markets and the department of agricultural economics of the Pennsylvania state college.

Eggs, inspected, graded and packed according to strict state standards, are auctioned twice a week at Doylestown, expenses of the auction being borne by a small charge to the producers. Average sales, when eggs are plentiful, are about 500 cases a week, Whitacre said. An original membership of 30 has grown to about 180.

"We were particularly interested in asking buyers why the patronized the auction," said Whitacre, "since such auctions to be successful must first attract buyers."

All Graded
"The main reason they gave us was that they were able to get a steady supply of graded eggs, so that they were certain of getting the qualities for which they paid.

"We found that the auction's main patronage comes from small produce dealers and grocers within a radius of about 15 to 20 miles from Doylestown. That includes many from Philadelphia, of course. Larger buyers from more distant points - some from out of the state - have been coming more frequently of late, but their patronage fluctuates. The smaller buyers appear to be the backbone of the auction.

Provide Data
"Numerous requests have been received at State college and Harrisburg for data which might be helpful in starting similar auctions elsewhere. Our report will answer many of the questions which are naturally asked. I believe the main essential to success of an action of this type is to be sure it is located near enough to large consuming markets, from which steady patronage may be expected for eggs graded according to strict state standards. A survey of such market possibilities should precede any local attempts to organize an auction, we feel."

Preliminary copies of the report will be sent, when ready, to interested persons who address the Greater Pennsylvania Council, Harrisburg.

The Gettysburg Times
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
June 10, 1932

Visit Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.