Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-28
Government Review Of
Fruit and Vegetable
Markets of the u. S.

Bureau of agricultural economics, market
news service, United States department of
agriculture. Weekly market review of
fruits and vegetables. shipments for the
to jobbers. August 1920, inclusive)
Carlot supplies of principal fruits and
vegetables are moving at the rate of about
1000 cars per day. They are increasing, as
usual at this time of the year. but still
are less than a year ago by about One-sev-
enth. which is not far from the proportion
of the total supplies of the two seasons
thus far. Increasing shipments of potatoes
sweet potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, celery and
pears more than offset the seasonal de-
crease in melons, antaloupes, peaches and
tomatoes. The center of activity is begin
ming to shift to the fall lines of produce.
Demand continues generally active, and
most of the weeks price changes were up
ward.
Active Onion Season Coming
The onion supply is moving at the rate
of fifty daily. Some of the leading
main crop sections, New York Massachu-
sets and Iowa. are becoming active. New
York supplied nearly Onerthird of the weeks
shipments, Increasing supplies are 10 be
expected until the September October peak
has passed. Just now, the state of Wash
ington supplies a considerable share of the
carlot receipts, mostly Yellow Globes, ffOm
the Walla-Walla district, this region reach
ing almost country distribution, al
though many lots reach eastern markets IL
rather poor condition. Washington onions
sell at a general range of $2.25@l2.75 per
hundred pounds in city wholesale markets.
Onion prices were generally steady with
leading lines and grades selling around So
in NEST markets. Pennsylvania yellow stock
advanced SOC in Philadelphia and PC in
Baltimore. California white stock gained
25c in Chicago. reaching $3.50@4.00 per
100 pounds.
In recent seasons the onion crops have
been light in the odd years, but this season
the forecast of August 1G shows production
Of fhO min i ctato with hin
per cent of last year. There was some de-
crease in eastern acreage, but yield prom
ises we'll at 400 bushels per acre for New
York, $50 for Massachusetts, and about 800
in the middle-western states. There were
heavy gains of acreage in Colorado and In
diana. The outlook is for a total crop
little above the average quantity, and with
center of production farther west than
usual. Last year the markets proved able
to dispose of a liberal supply at prices
which tended upward during the season.
The eastern market range advanced from
$1.50@2.00 per 100 pounds in the early fall
of 1922 to $500 in November and closed
the season around $500. The strength f
monty explained by the general prosperity
of the consuming class and by the new
tariff restrictions on imports.
Potatoes Higher in Eastern Markets
While total potato shipments this season
have been less by one-fourth, most of the
great eastern city markets nave received as
many carlots as last season. Chicago and
Kansas City have received about One-third
more. This is a development not unusual
IN short crop years, when the great markets
receive larger proportion of the carlot
supply. than in full crop years. The heavy
arrivals at middle-western markets have
tended toward lower prices in that regiOr
Eastern markets and shipping points gained
15c to &c per 100 pounds, Boston advancing
SOC, but the Chicago market strengthened
only slightly. Kansas City weakened, and
most western shipping points more
than steady. New Jersey Cobblers, repre-
senting about One-third of the current sup
ply. made gains of 25c per 100 pounds in
five eastern cities and at shipping points.
Cabbage Markets Steady
Fully tw0-thirds of the supply is coming
in nearly equal parts from Colorado and the
Roanoke section of Virginia. The rest is
from small areas in the middle west Home
grown stock is supplying Cleveland, Pitts
burg and some other markets. Virginia
Danish type held steady in New York and
Philadelphia around 5000 per ton bulk per
car, and Colorado stock in Kansas City at
$3.50 per 100 pounds. The outlook is Tor
moderate decrease from the tremendous pro-
GuctiOn of last season. Acreage Of late cab
bage is 6 per cent less and condition not so
good although equal to the fiveyear aver
age.
Lettuce Shipments Increasing
The heavier movement from New York
and Colorado is a feature of the lettuce
situation, but supplies were moderate. New
York Big Boston lettuce averag ed about soc
advances, but gained Toe in Baltimore and
Chicago, closing at general ranges of $l.00
cast at 2,1S2,10 crates, gain of abont
little change, closing at S3.50@4.00 in mid
dle western markets. Production of late
lettuce has fully doubled since two years
ago, when six principal late crop states re-
years forecast of 5,46S, 200. Gains in the
west were startling, Colorado increasing
from 243, 900 crates in 1921 to 997 200 crates
in 1922 and to 100000 as forecast in
were 900 crates, $4,000 and 200.
Michigan and Pennsylvania show decreases
but New York made some gains, and still
produces over one-third of the late lettuce.
but Colorado this season exceeds New York
in acreage and estimated production, hav
ing become the leading late lettuce state.
Celery Slightly Higher
New York celery declined in New York
City, closing at $150@1.75 for three fourths
crate Michigan celery declined 10c in
Cincinnati. California and Colorado stock
sold steady at S6.00@7.00. Production of
late celery in six principal states is Gore
cast at 50. 1921 crates a gain of about
$4,000 over last season. Four-fifths of the
crop is. as usual, in Michigan and New
York.
Other Fruits and Vegetables
Cantaloupe prices were firm in the east,
but still are weak in middle western cities,
owing to abundance of home grown stock
rather than to carlot supplies. Shipments
are decreasing, although still abundant. Sec
tions still active are the TurlOck district
Of California, Delaware. Maryland and Ten
nessee. Grape shipments from California
continue heavy, moving at the rate of about
100 cars daily Delaware shipments are de-
creasing. Over one-fourth the weeks ship
ments were from Missouri. Prices show
little change, but general trend was up.
ward, and north Georgia shipping points
advanced $2J6lJ0 per car. Sweet potato
mrakets held nearly unchanged in price for
good stock, with the prevailing range $3.50
6lG.5O per barrel. Over half the weeks
\ supply was from Virginia which shipped
173 cars out of 1886, compared with a total
Of 11S the preceding week.