by Laurel | July 28th, 2009
July 28, 1908, page 8
Relief that Eight Cents Will Be Charged Next Winter
There is a strong probability that the retail price of milk in Holyoke will be raised to eight cents a quart after the first of November. The wholesale price being raised from 4 to 4 ½ cents a quart by the farmers’ association causing the milk peddlers to make a corresponding raise in the retail price. A well known milk dealer in talking over the situation last evening said that he thought that there was little doubt but the retail price would go up a cent on the first of November. Not only is the wholesale price higher, but the cost of grain and feed has taken a hump and it costs more to produce and market the milk than a month ago.
In Springfield the winter price has been eight cents and although Holyoke has usually retailed the milk at seven cents he thought it probable that the city would join the procession with the other cities this winter. There has been no meeting of the retail dealers so far to discuss the situation and it is possible that one will not be held. The city had a retail dealers’ association at one time, but it has not been in a flourishing condition for some time, although it may be revived. The raising of the price of milk, if such a move is decided, will come as a hardship to many families in the city and will be an unwelcome addition to the present expense of living. Last year the number of quarts of sweet milk sold daily in the city was estimated at 21,220 with 1900 quarts of skimmed milk and 500 quarts of cream, the retail value of the milk and cream sold in the city last summer amounting to $808,628. With an increased cost of the number of quarts taken at present in the city would be diminished in some degree although the new families arriving would probably bring the total amount sold to about the usual figure.
From the Springfield Republican.
