The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-10
BIZ YING FRESH FOUD.
JULIET coRsoN GIVES SOME DE-
TAILS FOR MARKETING.

Prices Are Likely TO Be only slight
and Temporary, Therefore It Ii Not
Wise to Lay In Large Supplies.
Copyright by American Press Association
The summer being well on the way
there now can seldom be any more than
a temporary lack Of fresh food. As long
as the intense heat lasts It is not wise to
purchase more largely than the needs Of
the family warrant. To buy quantity
of any kind Of food because it is tempo
rarily cheap is not good policy If there is
the least danger that any OF 1t VIII spoil
before it can be eaten.
Usually food is cheap for one Of these
two reasons: Either there is an over sup
ply or glut of the market, because OF
abundant yield, or because the product
has been held back for rise in prices.
in which case it is not marketed until 1t
is IN danger of spelling. H there Is
abundance probably the prices Will not
be advanced locally, and one need no:
be forced to purchase more than is re-
quired; if the articles offered at low
rate have already been kept as long as
they are likely to be properly eatable, to
buy more than can be used at ones
would simply be throwing away the pur-
chase money.
The first principle in economy would
be defeated, for nothing IS cheap for
which we have not an immediate use.
These two conditions aside it is either
local market rules or accidental clrcum-
stances that make any unusual variation
in prices. The accidents are storms So
we're enough to disturb local traffic os
interruption Of railway or steamboat
transportation facilities; they are not
likely to be more than temporary him
ORANGES, to be overcome by doing with
out the article in question until 1t Is
again within ones range of price, or
buying only the quantity absolutely nee
essary for the time.
In many Of the smaller cities where
there are surrounding market gardens
the buyer has greatly the advantage Of
purchasers in the large markets, where
all the supplies pass through the hands
of middlemen or commission dealers.
The market days occur regularly several
times weekly, the products offered for
sale are well understood, there is but
little variation of prices and the fullest
opportunity Of satisfying every inclina-
ton Of the palate at reasonable expense is
afforded. Of course all supplies are III the
best condition early III the day and the
best choice is then offered: as the time
passes and the farmer or his representa-
tive is anxious to close up business de-
cline in prices may be offered, which lndl-
Gates only this state Of affairs and leaves
the buyer to decide as 20 the condition Of
the wares for sale. Sometimes the whole
stock will be bought up by some local
peddler who trusts 20 tle coming OF late
purchasers to dispose q it; buying late in
the day under any circumstances lInphes
unusual care in selection, for almost any
food is impaired by exposure TO sun a2d
air during the heat Of the day.
Buying from street Peddle1s usually
has this drawback; either from care
lessness or ignorance they fsn to shelter
their loads from sln and dust, and If
vegetables or fruit OF u delicate kind or
the still more perisa&bIe meats or fish
are in question the buyer should be very
cautions. The stock from which Sheir
wares is recruited is generally that let
in the hands Of the large dealers at the
close of the market demand. and either
already spoiled or upon the verge
of decay. In these days Of refrigeration
this is more than ever the case. Food
of any kind which has once been kept
in the atmosphere of a refrigerator car
OF a cold room viii spoil with the great
est rapidity directly ii Is exposed to
higher temperature; even that which
has been temporarily kept IN the family
ice box is apt to faint IN the kitchen If
it remains there any length Of time.
To return to the street dealers, when
they have the fresh goods Of an over
stocked market, and come into a new
neighborhood. they are apt to give sca1Is
measure, thinking that they viii not
strike the same customer tae second
time. The honest wagon dealer usually
has his fixed route and regular custom
ers, generally in some suburb where
local stores are infrequent. He regularly
brings them a choice of fresh supplies,
and depends upon fair dealing to Keep
their custom; under such circumstances
fresh fruit and vegetables are really
available. notably if they are brought
directly from some local market garden
II q vet cloth is kept over the lOed 1t
VIII remain fresh from the effects OF
evaporation.
Many houselEeoDers are puzzled to
know how to keep the most perlshable
of the summer fruits-cheTres, currants,
blackberries. etc. If ell imperfect or
decayed portions are removed, and the
fruits placed either in the ice box. not
on the ice, or in draft Of cool OF damp
air, they will keep over night. Damp
ness ara warmth viii surely spoil them.
The stems may be removed If they are TO
be used soon. but care must be taken
not TO bruise thsTa. Cherries and piuIns
which have been II the ice box for sew
eral hours VII show pretty bloom IN
tho atmosphere Of the dlrJng room.
" heu beT-les are sound tf1e BEST wcy 70
keep them Is 70 5,-ead tnela upon dry
platter. SO that the ar can touch them I'll
around, and place tisen IN cool cur
rent Of Ri. Experience ls the oest
teacher in the treatment OF fruit, DE-
cause that raised IN different looahties -
Of dif1e-e-t substance. the hrnest Keep
ing better tla1 the wateFg kind.
Too s-oSt care caa1Cs lie exercised N
tie selection and tres -ne1t o. fresh