Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-09-30
CALIFORNIA FRUIT.
Reports From the East Very
Favorable.
INCREASED DEMAND FOR PRUNES
California Raisins Ahead of the
Malaga-ImprOvement in
Wines.

the products from this State, and the
market is constantly opening up in new
directions. The present year bids fair to
be an unusually prosperous one for fruit
growers all over the State. The place to
be occupied by California oranges was
established beyond question several years
ago, but in various other lines the hori.
son of market possibilities is rapidly
widening.
In the matter Of prunes, for example,
a product which has heretofore not cut
very considerable figure in the statement
of exports from the State, the Fruit
Dealer, the leading paper devoted to the
fruit industry in the East, says:
California prunes have sold in large
quantities from the hands of commission
merchants, for shipment during early
September, at IL cents for the four sizes,
and resales of small lots have been made
at 71s@731 cents. These figures sound
rather high in comparison with values
quoted for the new crop of French, but
the trade is impressed with the belief
that the popularity of California prunes
gained during the past two years will
stand by the fruit, and that even with
difference of q cent or more per pound in
favor OF imported goods, the former will
be given the preference by large class
of consumers.
"From indications already noticed
French growers have determined to take
up the gauntlet that the Pacific Coast
has thrown down, and propose to do
battle as they never had occasion to do
before. Several weeks ago price of %
francs @. and F., or say 1-16@6h
cents, was named for four sizes for early
shipment, but they have gone below
even the money mark of 6 cents and are
prepared for business.
Naturally those whose interests lie
with the French product are jubilant
over the prospects for the trade this fall,
and do not hesitate to pin their faith
upon the success of the French against
California. The difference in the cost of
these two products is certainly wide, and
it must be said that the French start eff
with positive advantage; but whether
the difference can be maintained is
question that only time can solve. The
California product has certainly made
phenomenal progress during the past
three years, and has succeeded in gain.
ing popular favor, but whether it can re-
tain this popularity is a question that
can only be decided when the two are
placed side by side upon the market and
their merits tested"
On the same subject E. L. Goodsell,
one of the largest dealers in fruit in the
city Of New York, says
cas- an indication of how determined
French prune shippers are to push their
product into our market, it ia shown by
recent offers in this city to sell at SIC.
pound for an equal proportion of 50's
to SOS for September delivery. There
is no doubt but what they appreciate the
fact, as do the eastern people, that the
California prune is the more popular of
the two. French prune shippers, how
ever, are responsible to great degree
for this state of affairs, as it has been
their custom for two years past, in pack
ing their new crop, to mix in the old
stock in the packages. This has given
French prunes bad name among the
buyers, and is fact worth remembering
by the California drier."
The shipment of rsisins last year was
915, 900 boxes. The indications are that
the present crop will run considerably
over LOCO, 900 boxes, of which larger
share than ever will come from South
ern California. Shipments will begin
from Riverside next Saturday, on the
Santa Fe. A large number of consign-
ments have already been sent by the
Southern Pacific. Rosseter & Skid
more, of New York, sent the following
dispatch to growers in this State last
Thursday:
"We have succeeded this season in
getting California raisins in this market
in advance of Malaga. We had the first
carloads of Lion brand from California
here on the 2lst inst, the first Califor-
MAS of the season. Malagas did not get
here until the 23d inst. This is feather
in the cap of California, as heretofore
the best it could do was to get goods
here the same day as the Malaga. This
we did last year with the Lion brand.
The Sunset route deserve their share of
credit for bringing the goods through in
thirteen days from San Francisco"
j. A. Hudson, New York merchant,
fornia vineyards and orchards, is now
outlook for California fruit in the East
greatly improved during the last year.
He says that California and all its pro-
before among the metropolitans. The
Mail and Express and Commercial Aduer. |
riser, among the papers give especial |
prominence to California fruit and wine |
matters. Every Sunday the Tribune de. |
votes column to California and affairs OF |
interest relative to the State. California |
wines are being used more than ever, and |
MIR. Hudson is as confident as he is that |
the sun will rise tomorrow that two |
years will bring good times and good |
prices to all California wine-makers.
Various things are now combining to
lead to this result, and those wine pro.
ducers who can pull through the present
depression will come on. all right. Mr.. |
Hudson suggests that what is needed |
more than anything else is that there
should be agencies in the East |
where nothing but pure wine will be
offered to the public, and in this way the
reputation of the product maintained.
He instances the case of the Deweys,
who several years ago established an
agency in New York for the wines of
Northern Ohio, and who by persistently
only the best and purest wines
of that section at last established for
them an excellent reputation.
A letter from F. L. Goodsell, OF New
York, who makes specially of Califor-
MIA fruit, contains much that will be of
interest to fruit growers. Referring to
the state of the market for grapes, he
says:
L - L /