Evening star., 1923-01-31
POTATO GROWERS
GOING BANKRUPT
Low Prices Due to Huge Crop
Prove Great Handicap
to Many Farmers.
BY j. C. ROYAL.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 31-Ths
potato growers of the country can
expect little if any improvement in
prices for the remainder of the
tremendous crop of 1922, which still
remains on their hands. That was the
concensus of opinion of marketing
experts here and in other centers
throughout the country today. Thou
sands of bushels froze in the fields.
the warehouses and dugouts are still
full, but every stiffenfng of price
brings a volume of shipments which
flood the markets.
The growers have been helped so
far by the shortage of railroad equip
ment which has kept receipts at
marketing centers fairly low, but ac-
cording to Herschel Jones. former
head of the New York state bureau
of markets. jobbers are afraid to buy
except for Immediate demand and few
can be induced to take more than
ear load lots. Warmer weather, with
consequent increase in shipments
might tend further to disrupt prices
he said.
Farmers Go Bankrupt.
The trend of the potato market
titions in bankruptcy from the farm
ers in Aroostook and other eastern
Maine counties. according to reli
able reports from Portland today
Dispatches from the northwest in
dicate that growers in that section
have been hit even harder. Ten cents
busiied is the price growers have
been offered for their tubers in por-
tionS of that section.
Growers Of Idaho. Utah and th..
Pacific coast states have Jared some
what better than the eastern farmers
on this crop. but returns to none
have been satisfactory. AS a conse
quence, a decrease in potato acreag-
is forecast for 1923.
Onions in Great Demand.
Onions have been more extensiveIy
consumed in the United States dur
ing the season of 1928 than eve
before, according to Mr.. Jones. To
date more than 5000 car loads have
been marketed in the current sea
son than in the entire onion crop
year of 1922. There is no pos
hibility. however, that quotations this
year will rise to the height reached
in April. 1929. when $12 per 100
pounds was the prevailing price.
Except in California, the crop Of
onions has been excellent. No short
age impends. as was the case lasr
year, when failure of Texas shipments
at the peak of demand, which occurs
III -hdItIi anu April. Inc spanish
crop has been heavy and the Egyp-
tian growers are waiting to pounce
on favorable market in the United
States. Even now the Dutch are ship
ping onions to this country in spite
of the tariff OF ] cent a pound.
In the local markets onions now
range from S2.15 to 1926 for choice
Ohio and Indiana yellows, with the
reds averaging slightly lower. Ex-
perts here forecast slightly higher
prices rs spring approaches, but based
their predictions solely on this mar
ket because Of the large demand az
that time of year from the Jewish
population.
Florida vegetables. which normally
seek northern outlets to ultimate cor
SumerS, this year are being sold on an
f. o. b. Florida basis The volume Of
tourist travel in Florida has given the
growers there an outlet for the chicest
part OF their crops to the winter resort
hotels at excellent prices. Moreover, prod
uce men from the north have seized
on the Florida situation as an opportu-
nifty TO combine business with pleasure
They have taken their bank rolls south
with them and while enjoying a vaca-
| tion are speculating vigorously in Flor
ida farm produce. dealing direct with
growers and diVerting shipments to the
markets in various sections of the coun-
try which al the moment offer the great
est advantages. This trend, however
does not apply except in minor degree
to citrus fruit, the northern markets for
which, according to local dealers, are
thoroughly stabilized.