New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-06
4 FROST-STRICKEN FRUIT MARKET
DULL BUSINESS AND CONSIDERABLE LOSS TO
DEALERS CAUSED BY THE COLD SNAP
RULING WHOLESALE RATES.

dull. BUSINESS AND CONSIDERABLE LOSS TO
DEALERS CAUSED BY THE COLD SNAP
RULING WHOLESALE RATES.
The prevailing cold snap has caused dull bust
ness In the fruit trade and considerable JOSS 10
both wholesalers and retailers. frost-strcken
market is dreaded by fruit dealers even more than
q continuance Of heavy rains for several success
elve days Each ruins trade while 1t lasts. Rainy
spells temporarily destroy the business OF Keepers
Of outdoor fruit-stands and push-cart venders and
cause quick decay OF the overripe fruit they have
on hand Severe cold snaps have similar effect,
except that. as a preliminary to decay, fruits that
are especially sensitive TO cold freeze and become
virtually worthless. S;and-keepers and vendors
who. two three days ago. easily obtained cents
apiece for choice, luscious oranges in sound condi-
ton which have since frozen are now onering
them at 10 cents a dozen. Bananas are particularly
susceptible to freezing, and q month or more ago
none on stand or push-cart unless care
fully covered with blankets, bagging or bits OF
cheap ingram carpet. Since the present cold snap
set In no oranges have been exposed on push-cart
while the open-air stands have been practically
denuded, most Of the fruit being stored in warm
cellars and the small quantity kept upon the stands
being as carefully blanketed and watched as
thoroughbred racehorse.
Oranges have been arriving In large and frequent
ehipments from jamaica. Havana and various Medi-
terranean ports and wholesale prices are moderate
Receipts OF Florida oranges are about ended Most
OF those forwarded since the icy storm of the clos
ing DAYS OF December destroyed 10000 boxes Of
ungathered fruit and many young. bearing trees.
came to hand In such frosted condition that they
could not be marketed except at great loss, and
many were sold for less than the cost of trans
portaton leaving nothing for the grower or ship
per Choice Mediterranean oranges. in boxes CON
tanning from 2)O to 300 each. selling at wno!e-
sale for from 81 80 to 81 10 box. Sound repacked
Janaicas are from s. 50 10 81 a barre! Selected
Almeria grapes of superior color, now becoming
scarce readily bring from so to s2 a barrel OF
large size Almerias OF inferior but fairly good
color are selling for from 81 10 s. 80 a barrel.
Sici.ian lemons coming forward freely but the
market is firm for the best fruit, which is selling
for from 81 10 81 Is box containing 800 lemons.
large percentage Of the lemons recently received
consists OF small and inferior fruit. which whole
salers glad TO dispose OF for from 81 30 10 81 so
box. Cuban pineappes are beginning to come in In
considerable quantites the largest and best selling
FOR from N2 10 SIS hundred. um-szed az from
y to 80 and small ones for from 81 to &C. a hundred.
Bananas have advanced from 10 10 " cents bunch
during the last week, and are now selling for from
Plentiful but are selling slowly Good Baracoa nuts
are freely offered for from S2t s2s a thousand.
and San Bias nuts for from SIS 10 $50 Figs are
scarce, but will soon be plentiful. Fancy LAYERS
are bringing l0lz cents pound. and prices range
through the lower grades down TO 7 cents a Mound
Cranberries, which have been remarkably dear since
the failure OF the fall crop. which was less than
half Its usual volume. are selling readily ar IN.
unprecedentedly high price OF from sll to S2 a har
rel for good Jerseys, and $l3 to s4 a barrel sor
choice Cape Gods which are in short supply '''