The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-10-18
mANKATO FREE PRESS.
FRUITS AND PRODUCE.
Slight Changes 10 the Situation From a
Week Ago.

Week Ago.
The Minneapolis Times in it's weekly
review of the northwest trade situation
for the past week says
Rainy weather interfered with the
marketing of produce last week and
smaller supplies result in frmer pri ces
on many lines. Butter, eggs, poultry
and dressed meats all show advances
The advice in butter amounted to
y and 1c for nearly all descriptions
and the market is on very firm basis.
The local supply of creamery extras is
comparatively light, with fairly
! good call at quotations. Receipts are
showing some falling off, as is usual
at this season of the year, and will
probably continue to diminish. The
supply of frsts and seconds is not ex-
cessive, but the call for these goods is
ruling light. Retailers are buying in
small way, but are taking extras to
the exclusioun of other lines On
dairies the demand is of very good
proportions on top grades, with values
showing an advance over a week ago,
and firm at this advance. Values are
again firm on packing stock, after
period of unusual quietness in this de-
scription, especially on fresh, sweet
goods.
Eggs have advanced &c over week
ago, with prospects that there may be
further advances. Competition among
buyers in the country for strictly fresh
is keen and this is contributing to
raising the price, while the quantity
of these goods available seems to be
limited. Fresh held have not improv-
ed in price tone, but it is reported that
the supply available is rather limited.
June storage continues to come out, but
are not as actively in the market since
it developed that the large storage
companies, especially those of the east
and south, were in, this field for all the
strictly fresh they could obtain at
current quotations, for the purpose of
storing them till later in the season.
This situation has given local hand
lers more confidence in the situation.
Live poultry is quotably higher
than week ago and is fully 80 per
cent higher than at the same time a
year ago on hens and springs. This
has resulted from light receipts, cou-
pied with a good demand. Values be-
gan to advance the latter part of last
week, when butchers entered the mar
ket more actively for supplies, and the
situation has been much frmer ever
since. During part of the week the
supply of springs was inadequate to
meet the requirements of the trade.
Butchers are taking stock freely and
report good demand. The call for
turkeys is increasing, fancy fat stock
being in especially good request.
Veal has taken an upward turn dur
ing the week and is on more salts
factory basis to shippers. Receipts
have been light, and the cooler
weather has developed good consum-
ing demand, which has brought about
a more active market. Carcasses have
cleaned up we'll at the close of business
each day during the week, and no sur
plus is in sight. Mutton and lambs
are on very weak basis and are in
good supply. Hogs have developed a
lower tone. and there is an impression
that they will go to still lower basis.
Farmers are marketing more freely
since the inception of colder weather,
and this is relieving the situation
somewhat.
There was noticeable frmness
again last week in apples, and some
important descriptions have gained at
least 25c in price over a week ago.
The market is steady at the present
range of values and comparatively few
price changes are anticipated in the
immediate future. In west coast
fruits, peaches are drawing to the
close of their season, and are on a
stronger basis. Other descriptions are
unchanged. Cranberries, sweet pota-
toes, lemons, oranges and bananas are
on the same basis as week ago. The
season for melons is drawing to a
close, and also the season for crab
apples, while domestic plums are out
of the market. Vegetables hold a
steady price basis.