Evening star., 1924-01-06

other foodstuffs which annually are
shipped into George Washington's
namesake city.
A map of the United States and
another map of Europe are the best
answers that any transportation ex-
pert can present when he is interro-
gated concerning the places of origin
of the foodstuffs that are consumed
each year by Washingtonians. These
staple foods and many luXuries come
from all parts of the United States
and from overseas countries, for the
dietary of our great federal city is
as cosmopolitan as her yariegated
population.
Some of the fancy fruits that are
eaten in Washington every winter
come from far-away South Africa
and tropical South America. Fancy
,heeses from France, italy and Hol-.
land are relished by Washington
epicures. The choicest delicacies of
The orient come By boat and rail TO
our city of chief executives to satisfy
the cravings OF the sons of Nippon
from the land OF we'll farmed rice
fields who have settled in the latti-
tudc of Americas capital.
Down Center Market way, no mat
ter how eccentric be your taste. you
can find quaint, curious, aromatic and
Sppetizing foods by the dozen which
will convince you that life is worth
living, despite all its trials and hard
ships. You can procure there deli
cacies which are commonplace in the
bazaars of the far east. You will find
there staples which We're prominent
80 L.
Costly foods that none but the very
wealthy can buy and commonplace
products which regularly appear on
The table of most every American
family are offered at Washington's
leading market place.
An indication Of the permanency
and ever-increasing strength of
Washingtons population is reflected
IN the carload shipm ents of fruits and
vegetables that have flowed regularly
into National Capital storehouses and
cold storage places during the last
few years. The total carload re-
ceipts of farm produce imported by
rail in 1917 aggregated $4,000 tons, or
1900 carloads. Three years later
these had increased approximately
JOS per cent III volume. The next
season they made another per cent
gain. while for last year they amount
ed to the enormous total of 4,079 car
loads. equivalent to 4S,94S tons of
foodstuffs. This signifies an average
per capita consumption of more than
233 pounds of fruits and vegetables.
The estimate is small. as in addition
TO this total of produce shipments
there are more than 200 farmers who
ct,IfT Z n hi in tor
curbside markets whose sales are not
included in this summary.
:: :; :: ):
THE last report.of the United States
Department of Agriculture shows
that 1,623 cars of white potatoes, 46s
ears of cabbage. asa cars of apples,
800 cars of cantaloupes, 294 cars of
peaches, 254 cars of tomatoes, 235 cars
of onions, PA cars of celery, 1873 cars
of sweet potatoes and 4S cars of
Strawberries are annually shipped
into the little District of Columbia.
These products represent enough
fruits and vegetables OF the more i'm
portant varieties to feed an army of
more than 100000 men for at least
one month.
Virginia, the Caroiinas and Florida
are our leading sources of Irish po-
tato supply. New York, Florida, the
Carolinas and Virginia provide most
of our cabbage. Apples come from
Virginia. far-distant Washington
state and New York, while California
and Colorado are our leading sources
of cantaloupes. New York, North
Carolina and Georgia ship us peaches
Florida and Mississippi supply toma-
toes. Our onions come largely from
Ohio, New York and Texas. Florida,
New York and California produce our
celery. Georgia, North Carolina, Vir-
ginia and Maryland provide sweet
potatoes, while Virginia and North
Carolina raise strawberries for Wash
ington consumers.
The seasonal distribution of these
shipments of fruits and vegetables
corresponds with the demands of our
appetites for tomatoes and straw
berries in the early summer and ap-
ples and cabbage in the fall The
heaviest receipts of apples and onions
are unloaded at Center Market in Sep
tember, October and November, dur
ing a season when cabbage shipments
hlSU are large. anu o2Sy "a y
the outstanding cantaloupe months,
while celery receipts are maximum In
October. November and December.
July, August and September are the
big peach selling periods, while
strawberry arrivals are the greatest
during May. From February to May
sweet potato receipts run high, with
April, May and June as the popular
fn
received in large amounts throughout
the year, with the shipments maxi
mum in June and October
Washington's appetite for the
elect of the fruit and vegetable king
floms is satisfied by the offerings of
epicurean delicacies and abnormali-
lies such as dasheens and cayotes,
which come from Georgia, Missis-
sippi and Alabama; kumquats, tan
gerines and tangeloes, from Florida !;
yams, persimmons and cymlings,
from Florida and Georgia, and other
curious tropical products of Dixie
land that are transported to the
markets of the north both by boat
end rail.
Altogether the daily unloading Of
fruits and vegetables from various
states which are marketed in Wash
ington amount to an average OF
more than 250,000 pounds. In addi-
ton, more than $2.00o,ooo worth of
ioodstuffs are raised in nearby Vir-
ginia and Maryland and marketed in
the National Capital either by way
of the farmers market or by other
agencies.