In the capital of glavarkhiv stored a lot of documents, it would seem curious, but on closer examination they are very important. A good example of one such document can serve as the order of the city Council No. 1223 dated August 17, 1944, which deals with the implementation of the “plan processing and bookmarks for long-term storage of pickles harvest 1944”.
the Order obliged all trade organizations and public catering enterprises to start from 17 August 1944 to massive salting of cucumbers and set the retail price on this appetizer — three rubles per kilogram. The city authorities also allowed agricultural producers to take products for recycling at retail and not wholesale prices. To stimulate trading network and public catering enterprises, the city Council found an almost 30% discount to processors and producers — 1222 rubles per ton. Was first introduced a de facto ban on the sale and use in the municipal and departmental retail chains and catering fresh cucumbers, with the exception of greenhouse unsuitable for long storage.
Increased attention to cucumbers in the 1940-ies may seem strange. It is worth noting that during the war the supply of food was carried out of the state retail chain and departmental authorities support the rules and cards, as well as at market prices through a system of so-called farmers ‘ markets. In the state trade network from 1942 to 1944 at the price of a kilogram of pickles to keep at the level of three rubles (market price of 1941). But on the kolkhoz markets, this traditional snack has become the second value of the vegetable. The price per kilogram of pickles in 1943 exceeded $ 100. Expensive only had fresh onion — it cost 180 rubles per kilogram. In the spring of 1944 for last year’s cucumbers from a barrel asked for 78 rubles more expensive was only a bow (171 rubles per kilogram). Even a gallon of milk cheaper.
So the disposal of the Moscow city Council acquired special importance. It allows you to take control of the entry of this product on the eve of the winter season, to provide Muscovites vitamin supplements to the table, and at the same time, knocking down the level of prices, interfere to profit from human constraints to private owners.
Experience of “operation Cucumber-44” has been successful. From 1944 to 1980 the annual care of the supply of Muscovites pickles became traditional for the city Council.
