Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-10-30
Foreign Frnit Trade.

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The foreign fruit trade of Philadel
phia was never brisker than it is at
the present time, nor than it has been
for some time past The demand for
the fruit is steadily increasing. The
following information, derived from a
leading house on North Water street.
while it states something about the
foreign fruit importations Of that
house, serves to give fair idea of the
condition of the trade generally:
Ralsins have recently advanced 80
cents per box in consequence of the
severe and continued storms oil the
European coasts, which have made
shipments difficult. This fruit is at
least 30 per cent. higher than at this
time last year. Raisins now. sell at
from 1925 to $3 per box, and an idea
of the importations may be cleaned
from the fact that, during the week,
the steamer Escurian, from Malaga,
arrived at this port with $4,000 boxes
consigned to one firm. This is the
busy season for the raisin trade, and
will continue until after the holidays.
Oranges are coming in very rapidly,
nearly all from Louisiana and the
West Indies. A cargo of 100000 has
just arrived, consigned to the house
alluded to. These came from the
Bahama Islands, and hundreds of
thousands are coming in every week.
Oranges will continue to arrive in
large quantities from Louisiana and
the West Indies until December lst.
when they will begin to arrive from
Valencia and the Island of Sicily.
Oranges from the latter place will
come until next August. Oranges
now sell for Sl8 and $40 per 1000,
wholesale.
Lemons are arriving in small guam
titles, and the supply is not what is
desired. They are brought princi-
pally from Malaga, but after the LIST
of December they will come from
Sicily. About four-ffths of the
lemons that come to this country are
shipped from the Island of Sicily, and
they will continue to arrive until next
September. Lemons now sell for $3.50
per box of $50, wholesale.
The market is overstocked with do
mestic grapes, and California grapes
are beginning to come in in large
quantities. Among the choice grapes
are the white ones from Almeria,
Spain, and they come in 30 pound
kegs, and they, as well as the best
California grapes. sell for S6 and 81
per prckage of 80 pounds. Malaga
grapes come in moderate quantities,
and sell for Sc and $3.50 per package
of 45 pounds. 1t is thought the re-
cent storms in Spain will increase the
price of grapes about 40 per cent
White grapes will continue to arrive
for the next three months.
Bananas are steady, and very brisk
trade is being done. An average of
two steamship loads per week come to
this port, and one firm imports an ag-
gregate of 10000 punches per month
at the present time, each bunch CON
tanning an average of twelve dozen
bananas. They sell for about 81 per
bunch. During last March the firm
mentioned imported $4,000 punches.
The best months for importation are
March, April, May and June.
Cocoanuts are being imported in
large quantities, and the confectionersI
in the city use up about 100000 Of
them per month. One house has a
contract for 100000 per month. They
come from Jamaica, Cuba and the
Spanish Main, and sell from S375 to
$50 per thousand.
Pineapples arrive in April, May,
June and July. They come from the
Bahama Islands, and between 2,000,
900 and 5000, 900 reach this port every
year.