The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-08-27
CROP CONDITIONS
AND MARKET PROSPECT
For the Coming Citrus Fruit
Season.

Mr.. W. H. Mouser, sales manager
for Chase & Company, who during
the past five weeks has visited the
principal markets throughout the
United States and Canada, calling on
Chase & Company's customers and
representatives, investigating crop
and business conditions, strengthen
ing and adding to the Chase & Com
pany selling organization, recently re-
turned to Jacksonville.
Mr.. Mouser reports crop conditions
in the west, middle west and north
west very favorable, that business
conditions in the eastern factory cen-
ters are good, and that indications
point to favorable market conditions
on Florida oranges, grapefruit and
tangerines.
Mr.. Mouser stated: "Last year at
the opening of the season, Florida
found itself in possession of an alb
normally large grapefruit crop with
business conditions throughout the
country demoralized and the consump-
tive demand greatly restricted.
! "The situation is entirely different
at this time, as the coming grapefruit
crop promises to run way short of
last year and all indications point to
heavy consumptive demand right
from the beginning of the season. The
large quantities of grapefruit distrib-
uted throughout the country last sea-
son and sold at low prices created an
immense demand which should help
very materially in marketing at sat
isfactory prices the crop now on the
trees.
Last year at this time California
Valencia oranges of good quality were
in heavy supply and selling at ex-
tremely low prices.
california Valencias were in poss-
iession of northern and western mar
kets and also moving into the east at
the time Florida oranges commenced
to go forward California Valencias
continued available until the early
northern California navals were ready
for shipment. Consequently, sales of
Florida oranges in markets west and
north of St. Louis and north of Gin
cinnati We're limited and it was neces-
sary to sell the bulk of the Florida
movement in southern and eastern
markets, which, of course, meant low
er prices than would have prevailed
if conditions had permitted heavier
sales in the west and wider distribu-
ton; Furthermore, on account of poor
business conditions, the support from
southern markets was limited.
"At this writing, however, Califor-
MIA Valencias are in light supply and
selling in eastern markets at from
$4.00 to $500 per box-more than
double the prices realized at the same
time last year.
"Advices from California indicate
that their Valencias will probably be
out of the way by the time Florida
oranges begin to go forward. This
means that Florida oranges will not
go up against California Valencia
competition at the beginning of this
season, and also that the trade and
Iccnsumers who have been doing with
out oranges on account of high prices
ruling on CALIFORNIA; will be anxious
TO secure Florida oranges and be will
ing to pay good prices"
Mr.. Mouser stated that on account
of bushes conditions in some sections
of the country still being far from
good and the European and Mexican
wars causing more or less Of a dis
turbed feeling in this country, it
would not be wise at this time to an
ticipate high prices for Florida Or
anges and grapefruit, but that he
does feel safe in advising Florida
growers that indications point to good
and satisfactory prices.
Chase & Company do business in
all carlot markets in the United
States and Canada. They have a
large established purchasing trade
among the largest and best jobbers.
Being large shippers of Florida eel
cry, tomatoes, pineapples, etc, in ad-
dition to Florida citrus fruits, Chase
& Company do not discontinue doing
business with the trade at the close of
the orange and grapefruit deal, but
are in close touch with them practi-
cally the entire year. Mr.. Mouser ad-
vises that the bulk of Chase & Com
pany's orange and grapefruit ship
ments are sold at private sale and
only a small percentage at auction.