Evening star., 1924-01-21
CANNING INDUSTRY
IN SPLENDID SHAPE
Stocks Will Be Sold Out Be-
fore New Pack Starts;
Convention Opens.
BY: j. G. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
NEW, YORK, January 21.-Amer-
Scsn Gamers are facing an active and
prosperous gear. according to repre-
sentative leaders Of the &"dustry, who
gathered today in Buffalo for the
annual meeting of the National Cam
ners' Association. Many problems
connected with the production and
marketing of canned foods still re-
main to be ironed out, but the tech
nical position OF the industry is eX-
cellent and there is every prospec,
that existing stocks will be practi-
cally wiped out by the time the new
Packs begin 20 appear.
There is every evidence tha: the
Gamers intend to stress the ueces-
stty for fruit and vegetable growers
TO, improve quality as we'll az guam
tity production. In some sections
contracts are being SO framed that
farmers will be enabled to secure an
equal return for a fa- smaller guam
tity of fruit by careful cultivation
and grading.
Orders Sin Months Ahead.
The scope OF the plans and prospects
for the year are clearly indicated by
the activity OF the tin plate and can
manufacturers, many of whom are run
ming their plants today at capacity,
with orders booked as lar as six months
ahead. Still another encouraging factor
Is the increased foreign demand for
canned goods. Germany recently has
absorbed a very considerable quantity
OF American canned products. although
much or this business is understood TO
Deen
information regarding it be kept secret
III view Of the fact that payment was
made In dollars. The orient also has
oeen consistent customer recently,
ped materially. This is attributed to
labor unrest and unemployment
Price Trend Upward.
PREDICTIONS that the CORY over from
the 1923 pack will all be disposed OF be-
tore next July, however, are based by
most Gamers on the fact that Ameri-
can Jobbers and retailers have aban-
doneo handto-mouth buying capacity
Characteristic OF their operations early
in 1923.
The California canneries, which last
year packed l9,fJ2.43l cases OF fruit
and vegetables, are beginning this
year with approximately % per ceat
of this amount on hand. The fruit
PACK which was about 100000 case :
under that Of 1922. moved more slow
was million cases larger than that
OF last year California delegates to
the convention say. however that
their only unusual surplus stocks are
In cherries, apricots and plums. Prices
are firm with slight upward trend,
and they are confident supplies will
be well cleaned up by the time can
ming starts again.
Pineapple Season Near.
Hawaiian delegates stated that the
pineapple growers of the islands
would open their selling season in
March with 5.S00.000 cases on hand,
or 100000 more than last year at
this time. Demand for crushed pine
apple already is showing briskness.
While the weather this winter will
have a decided effect on the size of
crutt and vegetable crops In some
sections, this will be counterbalanced
by favorable growing conditions in
other territory and. all in all. the
Gamers are favorably situated as re-
CARDS raw materials
The United States. il is estimated
will require about 100000 tons OF
sugar this year. but there IS every
indication that the best sugar and
louisiana cane sugar production will
be extremely heavy and there is no
anticipation Of extreme fluctuations
in sugar prices.
Tin prices are from 30 to % per
cent above the level of this time last
year. but Gamers probably will not
be materially affected by this.