The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-11-29
THE ORANGE MARKET.
Some Interesting Facts About fiof
ida Fruit and Vegetables.

On Tuesdays auction sale some l,ooo
boxes Florida oranges were sold In %
lots, at from 81 601@$3 574. Some
choice, fancy fruit brought higher fig-
ures. Some 10000 have been received
during the week by steamer. More
steamers will be in on Saturday. lhe
season for Florida oranges has falriy
opened now, and receipts are increasing,
each steamer bringing larger invoices or
much better quality of fruit than the
first arrivals earlier in the season. And
vet buyers who may have the taste OF
the tender, lucious fruit of mild winter
still lingering in their memory, may be
little disappointed in some of the not fui-
Iy ripened fruit now arriving, although
it is far superior to anything in the way
of oranges now coming to our market at
the present low prices. Again, applying
to a dealer for latest information, the
following interesting interview was OBJ
tanned:
ssWhat are the prevailing prices of
different grades?'
.sWell, owing to the general demand
sized evenly graded fruit, all such is held
at very firm prices, from S3@4; but the
heavy receipts of the past few days has
caused stock to accumulate, an / the best
will be now offered from $3@3 so. There
is good deal of fruit now arriving that
is of just as good quality but packed just
as cut from the trees, with the large and
small fruit in the same box. Some times
have few Russell oranges mixed with
them. Owing to this fault of packing
we are compelled to offer this fruit at
25@30c. less per box. Where buyers can
use from three to ten boxes at time, 1t
would pay them to buy this, as it takes
but a very short time to size it when it
is turned out into the trays for retailing.
The Russell fruit is OF fine quality, later,
and by many preferred to the bright,
owing to this rusty skin. 1t has better
keeping qualities than the bright, and
stands transportation better. l am ad-
vising all my shippers to hold back their
Russets until the bulk of the brights are
marketed"
"What is your opinion as to results of
the talked of Fruit Exchange:'
''The small amount of fruit being ham
died through that medium at the pres
eut time will not cause any serious re-
suits, although their prices obtained at
auction sales thus far have averaged
from 25@50c. a box less than that OBJ
tanned by the leading commission houses
for fruit arriving at the same time. But
should they receive large invoices on
well-stocked market, the bulk of it, if
thrown in the auction room, would go TO
the under trade and at very low prices.
This fruit then would be hawked about
the streets at a low price and interfering
greatly with the business of the retail
grocers and fruit dealers, which trade
we want to protect, as they use most of
the fruit and pay best prices. The few
choice lines of fancy graded fruit would
probably bring near its value at auction,
but the large proportion of receipts are
up of small lots, and, being undesirable.
would be at the mercy of the hucksters.'
''Do you think the Exchange will sue
ceed as a medium of outlet?'
81 can not foretell the future, but am
willing to wait and abide the result of
the law laid down of the survival of the
fittest.'
"What is the prospect of the vegeta-
bic crop in Florida?"
''My advices are that a large acreage
has been planted, and unless cut off by
frost or protracted drought the crop will
be large and of good quality. The in
creased transportation facilities have
added to the advantage of the vegetable
grower, and we can now give you his
product almost as inviting as when
brought in by the Long Island farmer;
and enjoying green peas, fresh cucum-
bers in dead of winter is certainly some
advantage to the occupant of the mum
dane sphere in this 10Th century"
do you think it possible to have the
southern shippers put up their vegetables
to have them sold by weight"
Il think we are arriving at the same
results by having them use a uniform
standard crate. The Inconvenience of
weighing at a time when their time is so
much occupied, would be drawback to
It's SeiieIsii aeioptiCi. oiti might itoule III
many different methods, and not as sat
isfac.ory as present packages. We want
30 do what is best"
rs Florida enjoying the boom of n
few years ago?''
Il am confidant the outlook was never
mole favorable than at present and
money judiciously expended there now
association has returned from its Euro
pean trip, 1 think they could not find
better place for their next excursion than
that summer land of sunshine and flow
ers where birds song is never huShed