The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-11-08
Ia CITRUS EXCHAN GEcN
ER@ 49, 4 Y Z ERT -
MARK

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The total shipments of Florida fruits up to last Saturday
least 1900, perhaps 1900 cars of these are grapefruit. The crop
of grapefruit this year was estimated at 5000 cars. BY the loth
of November it looks now as though fully 80 per cent. of the grape
fruit crop will have been moved out of the state. Much 81 ths
has been sold at very low prices, owing to the immaturity Of the
stock. What the remainder of the crop will bring hangs upon the
method of putting it on the market. There is a universal demand
in this country for Florida grapefruit when it is good. We have
done a tremendous lot of advertising during the past thirty days
with poor grapefruit. This has doubtless disguised a great many
people who paid for what they supposed was good fruit, and they
will not repeat the purchase until they are satisfied that there =
full value to be had for their money. With the remainder OF the
in maintaining a market at $2.5O Of. o. b, and higher. Buyers have
had the whip hand, in that there has been so much fruit shipped
consigned to commission concerns who otherwise would have been
purchasers at a price. None of this fruit should go out except on
order.
ORANGEs-Thos who have been shipping iRdiscriminately
from Florida, oranges that have not been in condition eITon Tor @arxs'.
California shipped on the 18th 43 cars of Valencias; on the lsth.
cars Of vaiencias GU Of that state in four days. In the same
period last year California shipped 107 cars of Valencias
Information from New York today is as follows: (Oct. p.
"Car Lone Pine brand Florida oranges small sizes quality
fair sold today 25os at s5 cents, 216s, 95 cents to $1Oo. l76s. $ls5.
California Valencias coming freely, 80 cars sold yesterday. l6 TO-
day, California receivers now claim rushing them along account
fear Florida's Portoricas be heavy soon, claim Valencias arrivals
much lighter within two weeks"
Nashville on the 3Oth wires:
Answering your wire competitors are consigning freely can
not sell; market is depressed account of heavy arrivals; on present
condition of market can not get over $500 delivered. VIII keep
you advised"
ST. Louis on the 2sth wires:
VCdtHCI udO OOCh ely WdAh Ah OS'OAoA NNS"
depressed account heavy arrivals other fruits Competitors sold
at auction today one grapefruit average S195, car green SKIN
oranges offered withdrawing; car LOuisianas, sour, sold $l35
New York on the 28th wires:
weather warm, citrus market weak, Florida oranges sold
today fair quality ranging $110 to $175; Florida grapefruit very
easy, desirable sizes mostly $175 to $275. During continuation
of this warm weather and with Florida arrivals showing continued
nattractive green and immature we can see no indications OF Inn
provement in this market"
Boston on the 29th wires that 1925 is the top notch IN that
market for the best fruit to be had. Memphis reports that mar
ket is glutted with oranges and impossible to move them
Warm weather continues to prevail throughout the country,
deciduouS fruits are in abundance, California Valencias are M
market in unprecedented quantities, all of which, coupled with
the fact that Florida oranges are still green and unattractive IN
appearance, results in no market in any part OF the country Tor
oranges. California will clean up her ValenclaS as they have only
about two weeks in which to do it. Consumers have their choice
between these various varieties of fruits, California Valencias. and
Florida green oranges. The prices quoted In the above kilograms
indicate which they have chOSen-Or ratner tnat tney nave ~
chosen-Florida oranges.
November 5th is set as the date when the chemical analysis
will not be necessary to determine upon the shipping quality OF
oranges. After that date they must show W o-thHcs color.
Jos without saving that there will be many color blind people
shipping oranges. These people will not have facilities Tor know
ing what market conditions are; hence, the situation IL very crit
oranges around Thanksgiving in limited quantity. These
should on ont onlv on order and should meet the requirements OF
the BUYERS in point of color and development. II they are shipped
ont of the state green or sour, 1t will result In lowering the price
If oranges that can be sold for the Christmas trade. We hear
of all sorts of prices being named by all kinds OF people IN florida'
and there is evidence of panicky feeling among these small opera
tors and brokers who are afraid that tney won Z ther SnAIs
Of the business. What their share is, its hard to determine. Each
one feels that his share is all that he can get orders for' regard
less of the price to the grower, as long as ne, the broker or shipper.
gets his commission per box. 1t is to be hoped that Better luas-
ment will prevail and that the growers themselves VIII take q
hand in this deal, ~forbidding the movement of oranges from tnear
trees that are not sufficiently matured to give entire satisfaction
no amount of theorizing or specializing will induce him to pay hs
GOOD money for that which he does not want. Every packing
house in the state today should be closed down and not an grange
moved ovt of the state until they are in proper condition, which
til ~ rJ;oo+o \ w tho demand from the other end OF the lima