The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-02-04
Rsp BANANAS ARE SCARCE
Twenty Ysars Age Brought Lsss Prizes
Than ysllsw.

Twenty Year, Age Brought Lsss Prize
Thsn ysiisw.
RED bananas are not oftsn seen In
the market these days." said . COM
mission man, and whom We DO get
them. they bring fancy prices FIJI
teen or twenty years ago. the rsos
were the leading banana. and sold Tor
q lsss price than the yellow. The
change Il due to commercial rsasons--
the yellow banana IL more profitable
requires less time In Its care and eulti'
walton. and consequently. costs lsss-
More Of the ysllows grow on bunch.
stick to the stem better. and stand
handling far better than the red With
these advantages. the reds have been
practically driven out Of the market
The comparatively few punches
brought here are soon gobbled up BY
fancy fruit dealers. and they bring
good prices. Some people prefer the
flavor Of the red banana. and some
like that of the yellow. but the price
has q great deal to do with 1t. the fai
less price the yellow can be offered to
the consumer determines and settles
the question.
Bananas were never % cheap ~
they have been In recent years. and
what was formerly an expensive lux
ury IL one Of our cheapest articles OF
every day food. ranging in price from
7 cents to 20 cents q dozen As little
A. some people think Of 1t. the best
and most wholesome bananas are the
ones peddled from the push cars BY
the vendors. l cay this beca use these
fellows never buy bananas until the
fruit 10 thoroughly ripe. and In a day
or two more would not be at for mar
ket. The peddiers get them cheap and
rush them out at q lively rate A ba-
mana IL not wholesome food-tt IL unit
for the stomach-until perfectly and
thoroughly ripe. When commission
men get . large consignment OF ba-
nanaa they cannot AFFORD to let any
grass grow under their feet while get
ting rid Of the stock. for . few hours
delay may mean the spelling OF hun
dreds of dollars worth OF the fruit |
When II reaches this stage. the banana
auction takes place. and then the
street men get In their work. buying
dne. large. perfectly ripe punches for
as low ms 20 cents. Banana auction i
mornings around here on Louisiana
avenue are the liveliest mornings we
have. and the sons of Italy are on
hand by the hundreds have seen az
many A. 400 carts lined up here to get
supplies Of bananas
THE great bulk OF the banana
trade 10 now controlled by q company
which banana Importers have organ
zed. and this company uses the fast
est steamers for placing the fruit on
he marketa Formerly. we got them
years ago-in sailing vessels. but
bad weather would knock the vessels
,ut and the cargo would 90 to rot. No
,uch trouble A. that 10 experienced
low. the fast steamers. built especially
Tor the fruit trade. land here In good
'hape and with the fruit In prime con-
iltion- II IL after unloading that the
LANCER Of rottage comes. and the fruit
must be disposed Of In quick order.
Most Of our bananas come from Costa
Rica. British and Spanish Honduras.
Jamaica and Cuba-that is.
rom countries around the southern
part of the Gulf Of Mexico and around
he Caribbean Sea The bulk Of the
rult from the Gulf countries goes to
Few Orleans for distribution; that
rom the other countries coming to At.
antic ports The fruit was never 80
widely distributed. and especially In
Interior polnts.-Washington Post