Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-10
Government Review Of
Fruit and Vegetable
Markets of the y. S,

Bureau of agricultural economics, mar
ket news service United States department
Of agriculture, Wkeely market review of
fruits and vegetables. shipments for the
period of June 24-3O inclusive, and prices
to jobbers June 2G-July =, inclusiye)
A noticeable reaction occurred in whole
sale fruit and vegetable markets during the
last week of June, Liberal supplies of
some products and inferior quality of 9th
ers resulted i'll downward trend. New po-
tatOes, however, closed stronger. A net in
crease of no cars raised the weeks ship
mentS of eleven fruits and vegetables to
12,G5S cars. TwO-thirds of this total con-
sisted of potatoes, watermelons and canta-
loupeS, Shipments of watermeons. peaches
and new potatoes increased sharply.
Potato Markets Firm
With supplies gradually decreasing since
early June, potato markets recently began
to show stronger tone. The South Caro-
lima season is practically closed and North
Cardinals output is dwindling. Only within
the past week hive Virginia shipments be-
come heavy, the eastern shore now being the
center of greatest activity. More than .
600 carloads came from that territory dur
ing the seven days ending June 30. Norfolk
section furnished SEQ cars and Maryland,
east shore, started with thirty. Oklahoma
and southern California were the only other
districts showing considerable movement
OF new potatoes, but the season is opening
III Jue OfrlCk section OIL missouri ana around
Louisville, Ky. Total shipments Of the 1923
crop increased nearly 1000 cars, but were
still 700 cars below the movement of the
corresponding week last year.
Old potatoes are almost Il negligible fac
tor, as only 140 carloads came from NIichi-
gan and 80 cars from a dozen other north
ern states. Compared with the previous
week, shipments of old stock decreased g.
Final reports from Elizabeth City. M c.,
showed a nearly steady market, with best
barreled Cobblers selling at $4.00-4.1j f. OBJ.
Carolina stock advanced in eastern cities
to range of $45O-5.50 per barrel, closing
slightly lower in New York because of
the weeks arrivals of 700 cars of potatoes
Virginia Cobblersr in that market were
Jobbing at $4.25-4.75, but advanced else
where to top of 500, with Chicago carlot
sales ranging up to $6.25. Eastern Shore
stock also brought $G.OO-6.2J in Pittsburs
and Detroit Average price year ago was
- per barrel. The f. o. b. price of No. 1
ing hlgh mark of $J.25, or 81 more than
last July.
Sacked Cobblers and Bliss rriumphs
held steady around 81 per 100 pounds
/. .. b. shipping points in Texas and Okla
homa, respectively. The Chicago and ST.
Louis markets weakened to Il range of
$2.50-2.75. Texas season is closing with
record of only 80 cars, compared with
l4oO cars in 1922, ana ! 100 ears in 1921
Peach Supplies Increasing
Haulngs became heavy in the Georria
peach belt, as the season reached its height
shipments increased almost 500 per cent
and flIIed 30 cars Light movement was
reported from North Carolina and Okla
homa. Under a moderate wire inquiry the
cash track price of Carmans in central Geor-
Gla lost half the previous weeks range,
closing at Sl.25-1.50 per siX-basket carrier
Hlleys likewise declined sharply to level
of S2.00-2.50. Fruit packed in bushcI has
kets brought slight premium TO the
END OF June Georgia had marketed only
LIZ cars Of peaches, compared with D.
300 to the same time last season, and
North Cardinals output was only s cars
compared with 104 Regular jobbing sales
of Carmans in New York weakened to Il
range of S2.00-25O, but auction sales were
made at S2.15-2 80. The July auction
price on Georgia Hileys was 2.S5-3. go,
private transactions being closed at 81 80
800. Prevailing range in other markets
was $3-4, decline of about 81.
Watermelons Lower
1t was impossible for the watermelon
markets to hold the high-price levels of the
preceding week under the heavier movement
from Georgia and Texas. Size and quality
of southeastern melons also tend TO keen
values down. Declines of 100000 per car
load occurred in most cities and highest
prices for 30-pOund Tom Watsons were $500
ooO. serious declines were reported at
southwest Georgia leading points. Haul
ings were heavy and many cars of 22-pound
melons sold at 500 cash track. Larger
sizes, of course, brought more money but
stock weighing 32-34 pounds sold only at
S32'-400 per carload. Labeled melons COM
manded somewhat higher prices. Tom Wat
sons of $3.50 pounds average were selling
in the Hampstead section of Texas aft
Sl.3O-l. 90 per 100 pounds f. o. b. Texas
weekly shipments increased from 115 to
go cars, but Georgia sent 1,030 cars com
pared with 20 the week before. Florida
and California averaged so cars per day
Cantaloupe Prices Decline
AcW Work received about 400 cars Of
nlnt1D
proportionately heavy supplies This ac-
cumulation broke the market and jObbng
sales of standard crates were made at
90c-Sll0 lower. Closing range on CaIifor-
ma salmon limits was $3.25-4 in eastern
consuming centers, New Works offerings
bringing only 1928. The first car of pre-
cooled cantaloupcS from Imperial Valley
reached Chicago on June % and the fol
loving prices were realized: Jumbo DOS
50 per crate: Jumbo 3Gs, 50: PonyS J4s. 81
and Flats of II to Is melons, 50 Those
prices were about . per cent higher than
those on other California cantaloupes. but
ny the second of July values in Chicago Mad
fallen to S3.2J per standard crate As
available supplies decrease the cash track
price at Brawley, California. advanced
about 30c per crate from low point of
M.31@ 90. The shipping season will be
practically closed by July 10 or IL
Tomato Shipments Decrease
The waning tomato season in Mississippi
ana IeNas Is accompanied by declining
quaHlE OF the trmt. Jacksonville Texas,
[. o. b. market was Slow and weak. on
Il usual term" basis. carlots of mink stocks
in 4-bashet crates declined to a close of 81
green stock bringing slightly more. Auc-
ton sales of pinks were forced to the low
level of 75@S0c; greens to ST. and 6-bas-
ket carriers Of green stock to $2.25 OF the
weeks $40 cars, Texas furnished DIG His
siSsipp 100. and South Carolina 1O7 cars.
West Tennessee began with 104 cars. Sharp
losses were noted in all wholesale markets
but Texas tomatoes generally brought high
er returns than Mississipp: stock. The
weeks arrivals of 225 cars in New York
City resulted i'll a range of 81 5OGi175 for
best Mississippi turning wrapped tomatoes
and fancy-count South Carolina skies also
weakened to $46r4.7J.
Western lettuce met rather slow de-
mand and closed generally at 81. 5Om4 per
crate. Heaviest shipments were from north
earh California and Washington, but New
York movement is becoming active.