The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-16
THE PRODUCE MARKET.
The Price of Meat is Climb
ing But Will be Borne
by Retailers.

Beef has gone up half cent a pound.
Lamb and pork have the same eleva-
ton, and from the present outlook
prices will continue to climb.
Retail dealers say the rise in price
of meat win not affect the consumer
at present, although what the future
has in store is impossible to determine.
In spite of the slight rise, a majority
of househoIders will not worry about
the present condition, so long at least
as the obliging retail dealer is willing
to stand the loss. An inspection of local
markets shows plenty of material for
Sunday dinners, and at prices that need
not cause the average citizen any
worry.
The produce market, which furnishes
so many good things, is still abundantly
supplied with native vegetables, a large
proportion of which are brought in
from surrounding farms. The recent
cold weather has cut the tomato crop
short, and small cucumbers are I'M
usually scarce. Potatoes are being
shipped to Worcester in carload lots, in
competition to the native stock, which
has had tendency to reduce prices
somewhat.
The last carload of New Jersey
peaches which in all probability will
reach Worcester, was disposed of yes
to-day, bringing from 81 .25 to S1.7O a
basket at wholesale. Some California
peaches are in the market, with a
chance for a limited quantity from New
York state later in the season. On the
whole, the market price is advancing,
and, while some good peaches will be
on the market, the price will be high.
The peach crop as a whole has been
short The same thing is true of plums.
Grapes are coming in fine shape, and
in large quantities, commanding rea-
sonable prices. Apples are short at
present. The native crop is poor, al
though in New York state a good crop
is reported, which bring 80 so to rs a
barrel
Most of the pears in the market are
Bartletts, which have been kept in
storage, and are coming out in good
shape. The cranberry crop is good. At
present the berries bring reasonable
prices, in spite of the large demand,
which is in excess of the ordinary call
on account of the short crop of apples.
Butter, cheese and eggs are still on
the jump. Butter has gone up from
to cents pound in the last month,
cheese is cents higher, and eggs 8
cents dozen more than four weeks
ago.
These prices are qquoted in the retail
market: Roast beef, u to Is cents a
pound; steak, 10 to 80 cents; lamb chops
10 to 2S cents; pork chops, II
to l3 cents; roast pork, II to 1s
cents; corned beef, 5 to 10 cents; smoked
shoulders, to 10 cents; leg of lamb
II to 16 cents; hind quarter lamb, II
to IL cents: fore quarter, to 10 cents
fowls, II to II cents; chickens. 10 to q
cents.
Fruit and vegetable department-Ap-
pies. 10 to 40 cents a peck: tomatoes. 4C
to 80 cents bushel: egg plant, 10 to Is
cents each; cucumbers, 2 to 8 cents
each; pickle cucumbers, so cents a
hundred; bell peppers, cents pound;
sweet potatoes, rs pounds for % cents;
corn, 10 to IL cents dozen; wax beans
cents quart; lima beans, 40 cents a
peck; shell beans, so cents a peck; cram
berries, 10 to IL cents a quart; celery. Il
70 IL cents a bunch; caulifiower, 70 tc
10 cents each; round radishes. 3 cents
a bunch; lettuce, to 4 cents a head
spinach, 10 cents a peck; potatoes. Is to
Is cents a peck; red cabbage. 8 cents
white cabbage, 2 cents a pound; squash
z cents pound; parsnips, cents a
bunch; beets, 20 cents peck: pumpkin
cents a pound; turnips, 20 cents a
peck; onions, red or yellow, 20 cents a
peck.
Fruit-Grapes, Concords, Is and IL
cents a basket; Delawares, 10 cents: Sa.
lem, IL cents; Niagaras, 10 cents: To.
kay, 20 cents basket; peaches, 81. Is &c
M.,o a basket; bananas, 10 to Is cents
dozen.