The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-05-15
PEACHES Sl2 A DOZEN.
That's the Price Now Paid in
New York for Early Fruit.

INC ple;.Su 10 KNOW that III Il few weeks
they will be able to purchase them at
81 % each, or Sl2 Il dozen. Those who
are willing to satisfy Il longing for fresh
fruits with something aeaSexmnsiye than
-hothouse peaches will also be pleased to
learn that the strawberry season isalmost
at hand, and that even now many straw
berries are coming to market from Flor
ida and may be purchased at prices rang
ing from 20 to 50 cents G:nvt, accul,l-
ing to quality.
The usual retail price for good quality
Florida berries yesterday was about % or
40 cents quart. n strange fact about
strawberries is that while Florida berries
were being sold at S1.25 II '.cup"--a cup
is third of Il quart. There were sold il,
this city yesterday about ten quarts nf
hotlouse berries at this price of S3.G5
qvnrt, Wholesale.
Few fruits can he as generally found
in the market as Strawberries. During
about nine months Of the year it ispOs-
sible TO buy them from some source.
After the summer trade has closed the
berries do not appear until about the midi
of December, when those grown in hot
houses first reach the market. Almost
any price is paid for these-S9 quart
not being considered uncommon.
The earliest source OF outdoor grown
berries is California, but very few come
to New York, and those that do are al-
most as high in price rs the dollhouse
berries. by the early part of February
Florida begins to send Strawberries to
this market. These first Florida berries
sell for 81 Il quart. and from that time
the price gets granually lower. The
Florida season is about ut its best now
Ina very few weeks the first OF the
Charleston crop will reach the market,
and from that point the centre of the
shipping district moves steadily up the
coast. Norfolk is Il great shipping point
for strawberries during April, and soon
after That time New Jersey begius to
send its carloads of ripe red berries.
According to one commission dealer
in this fruit, the best strawberries that
New Workers get come from right down
OH Staten Island. The berry season is
prolonged into July by shipments from
what is called in the trade tie "up-rivcr'
district, and finally, 10y drawing on Cen
trail New York. The l;lsl coming from
Oswcgo about the middle of July. After
those there arc a few scattering boxes
and some grown with special care. 80 that
the season is cNtendcdl week or two into
August. Then the strawberry rrlilrS
from public view until December
The present trade is almost entirely
with Florida. When this industry was
first commenced, the berries were ship
ped in refrigerator cars, but this method
lid moi prove satisfactory, and the per
islmbc freight is now shipped in separate
refrigeratUIS. each of which will hold two
thilty-two box crates. Between and OIL
top of the crates ice is packed. and cacl
refrigerator with lis two crates is taken
10 The commission dealer to whom the
berries are consigned. These rctrigcr.
ators are all owned by the Manufacturing
and Transportation Refrigerator Com
riny OF Stark, Fla, and all the New
York dealers in Florida berries own stock
in this company. as any stockholders III,
allowed 10 llsc The rcfrigertors.
These Florida strawberries, il i, said
are not generally grown on large plan
lations, but are raised in almost I'LL eases
on farms of il few acres. \ large pro
portion of the shippers are negroes. who
grow the fruit on II half acre or So. Th,
chief shipping points i'm Florida for TN,
berries are Independence, Lakeland
Plant City, Galloway, and Stark
\ peculiar feature of the strawberry al
this time of year, according to one retail
dealer, is that Il cole snap docs not, us :
rule, raise the price, but usually lower
il. This, it WAS explained, is bccallS,
people do not think of wanting straw
berries in cold weather. When the SUI
shines as il did yesterday, the taste lol
strawberries seem to awaken, and the
price Of this scarce fruit goes up in con
sequence. Strawberries are sold at tilh
season for them, depending entirely oI
the demand.
This time of the year is about the dull
rst for the fruit sellers. There are not
many kinds that reach the city in amy
quantity. and in those thai do trading i.
light. There are Il fcw good pears ol
the market. These come from Califor
mia. and retail at about Il dollar Il dozen
New York Times.