Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-21
MARKET BASKET
NOT SO COSTLY THIS
WINTER AS LAST
Prices of Vegetables and
Other Food roducts Kept
Within Reasonabl b lie
Bounds.

The open winter has proved a blessing
IA many ways to the breadwinner. but
possibly the greatest benefit the mild
season has brought is in the prices of
food Vegetables this year have been
considerably cheaper than for many
years: meats. too. are triie lower, while
butter and eggs have failed to take their
usual winter aeroplane trip.
Retailers in the Reading Terminal,
Ridge avenue and I'd and South streets
markets state that there is an abundance
OF food now. especially vegetables. And
the best part about it is that 1t can get
as "cold as snakes" now and food won't
go up to any great extent. There is
large quantity of food in storage and in
the hothouses. so that heavy. lasting
cold spell would not do much damage.
While the open season has been the
main factor in keeping the prices of food
down, retailers declare there is a gem
eral feeling of good times" throughout
the East Crops have been good. hens
have been laying and despite the cpl
demic OF hoof and mouth disease, cattle
have been pretty good"
Butter and eggs have been the most
ncticeably low this year. as compared to
last year. Last year these two neces-
Baries took ride in dirigible and were
almost out of sight until springs advent
dropping bombshells upon the poor sick
people, But blddy has been laying well
this winter because she has had plenty Of
warm weather to go out and feed. Hens
will not lay until they can run around
and ind gravel, and. sad to say, they
are tlmid OF going out when It Is cold
Vegetables are more plentiful than they
have been for many moons. String beans
and peas have kept up the cold weather
traditions of the vegetable family, but
they are the only two that are up in
the air at present. String beans are SELL
Ing at 70 cents a half peck, while peas
are going at $50 half peck.
Carrots. turnips and potatoes are the
cheapest vegetables in the Philadelphia
markets. The latter are selling at IS
cents a half peck. and lima beans are
low. too. Onions and sweet potatoes are
VERY reasonable" to use the language
OF the retailers
Fruits have surprised the highest sx-
pectations OF the consumer. and market
mon say they are cheaper this year
than could even be expected. Apples that
sold for $3.50 last year at this time are
AH low as sS now. Oranges may be had
Tor xL3 for box OF about 200. The
most select oranges are only 81 a box.
and strawberries are going fast at As
and 50 cents box. Hothouse grapes sit
vi AA1 AlAvA9 VI AitiB htHn pllcess ana
they are selling at SB and $50 a
pound.
Pork is lower than It was several weeks
ago and much lower than Il was the
same time last year. All other lines OF
meats are stationary, The varieties that
usually begin to scamper up the ladder
% prices at this time Of the year have
failed TO take the expected step. A com
plete price list OF meats. compounded
from the prices charged by the three
markets, follows (the prices are per pound
unless Otherwise stated:
Ribs beef. 2s to 30 cents; chuck roast,
Is % 4i rump steak. %; round steak,
ti = s8i slrloin. s5; Dslmonieo steaks.
~. coined beef, Is 10 28; legs OF mutton,
Ni shoulders Of mutton. Il; nscks OF NUT
tqH. e: breasts, rs: legs OF Iamb, IS;
Shoulders OF lamb. Is; hind quarters. q;
French chops, 80; neeks. u; breasta. IS;
1neaAaeFs of veal. lss loins OF veal. Is
hlleE. = outlets. s5; fresh hams. ls; fresh
ttenlaz1a. 10. pork loin chops, 20; salt
PORK. e. bans. 20 and lard. is