San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-20
OUR FRUIT TRADE.
THOSE WHO DEAL IN 1T.
Fhe Number of Stands, Vendors,
Etc. - Our City the. Greatest
Fruit city in the State
More Gardens Want
ed Here.

AS people pass along the marrow
streets of this city, stopping now ant
then to purchase some fruit from tn
numerous small stands with whicl
the town abounds, little do the,
think of the immense am punt of frui
consumed in this city daily, and tina
selling it is one of the most paying
businesses one can follow.
| There are between three and foul
hundred persons in this city who re-
tail fruit. They consist of grocery
stores, fruit stands, peddlers, etc., all
of whom make good money off their
sales.
OF stands that make fruit selling
their sole business, there are proba-
bly, few over one hundred. These,
if they understand the business, are
all making good livings and laying
aside little money right along. The
city has two wholesale houses, and
several who sell both at retail and
wholesale, who supply the stands and
other fruit dealers with their wares.
Most people think that all fruit
dealers in the city, or at least nearly
all, are Italians. This is q mistake
People of all nations engage in that
business, Americans, Italians, Ger
mans, French, MeXicans, and all
kinds OF people can be seen behind
stands and small tables on the streets
or with q basket under their arms,
some crying out at the top of their
voices the names of the fruit they
have forsale.
Of late years the Mexicans have
begun to deal heavily in fruit and
many have very good stands in
different parts of the city, and
are making GOOD money. -Four We ,rs
ago blt few of them could be found.
The Italians, of course, predOmin-
ate in the business, as 1t comes al
most second nature to them. They
understand handling fruit and pre-
serving 1t better than other people
and consequently make the most
money in the business.
The princiEa a. fruits handled are
oranges, bananas and lemons. The
latter have great demand the year
October and closes in July. Bananas
sell through about the same season;
apples, northern, from August to
May. Texas apples will commence
coming In in a few weeks. They
| come from the eastern and northern
parts of the state. tits almost time
| tor the California cherries and april
| cots to come in.
The principal fruits handled here
are: California fruits, pears, plums,
and grapes, from middle Of July to
December lst. Oranges. bananas,
lemons and apples, as before men
| toned,
San Antonio is recognized as the
greatest fruit market in the state.
the greater part of fruit Is raised
away from the city. OF late some in
dustrious farmers and fruit growers
from other parts of the country who
| have settled near the city are COM
mencing to raise as fine fruit as can
be found in the country. The grapes
that are raised on the San Antonio,
| Medina and other rivers near here
are as fine as the California grapes
shipped from that state, and better
because they are fresh from
the vines when brought to the city
| and can be kept better.
No finer peaches and plums can be
found In the country than are raised
within thirty miles of this city. This
is an off year on account OF the drouth
and cold weather during the winter,
in sandy districts.
The city Is receiving point for
fruit rather than shipping point.
| Very little of the latter business Is
done as there Is not enough raised to
to supply the home market.
1t is the same in regard
| to vegetables not enough being
raised at home to supply the de-
mand. There are many openings for
good gardeners and fruit rasers. A
| large "sass" farm would do we'll here
aud get good prices for its produce, as
| the finest kind of cabbage can be
| grown and it always brings good
| price in the local market.
Fruit and vegetables should be
produced in large quantities here and
make the city noted for its great ship.
ments of fruits at home and abroad
instead of being only as a great fruit
| consuming city among the fruit deal
ers In the state.