The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-23
FLORIDA FRUIT STAGNANT.
In Movement, Says W. ID. SimlSins.
But That Received Is of Good

Quality.
Florida oranges this season are
much above the average in quality"
said Mr.. W. D. Simkins of the ". y.
Simkins Co, produce and fruit dealers
yesterday.
The statement was made in reply
to a question relative TO the crop and
condition of the Florida orange and the
shipments now being handled.
The market. however. is stagnant
right now" Mr. Simkins said, cow
ing to the long dry and hot spell Of
weather we have had for several weeks,
and the movement to the greater
markets Of the country has NOT yet
fully begun.
we do not get the best fruit on
the market here" he added. but a
fair selling and palatabIe fruit. not
the very highest grades. They go
further north where dollars have no
value with those wanting the fruit.
Here in Savannah and the South in
general, the people do not care for
the finer fruit and it would not pay
dealers to handle il.
The orange we are receiving at
present" continued Mr.. Simkins. lis a
highly uOlored and nicely favored
fruit, and brings a good price. They
are round and solid, with very firm
meat"
What prices are the fruit bringing"
That would not be a fair question
TO answer" was the response. be
cause there are as many different
grades of oranges as there are brands
of goods. and because it would not be
just for me TO set a market quotation,
but all oranges are bringing prices
above the average for this season of
the year.
The grape fruit" said Mr.. Simkins,
ARE far above the average Of any pre-
ceding crop for years, and are bring
ing fabulous prices. These fruit are
becoming very popular and are in
great demand. The quality is excep-
tionally fine. They are all we'll ri
pened and of a large size.
THE lime crop is about over and
those on the market have a good sale
and bring fair prices. The pineapple
crop is also about over. The new crop
early next season promises to be larger
than ever, as a great many persons are
cultivating them extensively for mar
ket purposes" said he in conclusion.
Other dealers in fruits expressed
themselves along the same lines, the
general opinion being that the orange
crop of Florida this season is far
above the average both in quality and
quantity. From now on until after
the holidays these fruits will be in
great demand throughout the country,
and the market prices will fluctuate
owing to the supply.
Many Northern houses have agents
scattered throughout Florida buying
up the fruit. They are bought on the
tree and by the crop whenever posi-
bic, for ii is better for the house to
pay for the gathering and shipping
than to have them boxed and deliv-
cred by the grower. But not many
are bought this way, as the grower
realizes from past experience that the
fruit is worth more to him to hold,
gather and ship according to the de-
mands of the market, thereby making
his profits larger.
A well known orange grower re-
Gently said that the freeze in Florida
several years ago. by which the
orange crop was almost completely
wiped out and many rich people made
paupers in one night, had been a
blessing to the industry, for IT has
learned the growers to take better
care of the fruit, to see that 1t is OF
the best quality and marketed TO
better advantage. He also said that
the orange belt has moved further
South in the state, and that the yield
is yearly increasing, and that in few
years hence the output will be as
great as IL ever was. 1t is estimated
that the product this season will
amount to more than 500, 600 boxes.