Evening star., 1927-03-18
FOOD PRICES FALLING
TO SPRING STANDARD
Several Reductions, with No In
crease, Reported at Market
This Week.

| Slowly but surely the price pendu-
lum at Center Market began it's long
downward swing toward Spring levels
during the past week, when several
reductions We're recorded in the rari-
Gus produce lines without a single
price increase on any product in the
whole market.
Meats and dairy products are hold
ing steady at last weeks prices, but
vegetables are quoted at prices that
indicate relief for the marketing
housewife.
Rhubarb dropped from % cents to
Is cents a bunch since last Saturday,
and asparagus, which was scarce at
85 cents to 81 seven days ago, is ar
irving in the city in plentiful quanti-
ties at 20 cents to $1.25. Peas were
reduced 5 cents also, and are to be
had at 20 cents a pound. They seem
to be unusually fresh and crisp and
entirely Spring-like in general quality
Tomatoes also are 5 cents below last
week s price, the best variety selling
at 25 cents a pound. Strawberries,
which Were scarce during the early
part of the week, are expected to be
plentiful tomorrow, with the average
price around 40 and As cents a quart
They are still coming in from Florida
but within a few weeks the more
norther1y berries, including those of
the Carolinas, will begin arriving, with
lower price tags for the retail trade.
String beans, on which the low
price heretofore has been 35 cents,
will be had tomorrow for 25 cents a.
pound, and French endives, too, re-
corded a reduction of 8 cents to sell
at 35 cents.
Alligator pears are lower most deal
ers asking 40 cents apiece for them
This price is about cents below last
week S quotation. Honeydew melons,
which returned to the Washington
market during the past month at
$1.50, are now selling at 80 cents.
There are practically no Tolzay grapes
left this week, but excellent MalagaS
are to be had for IS cents q pound.
Produce remaining steady in price
includes potatoes, which hold the
same levels they have occupied for
several months. Old potatoes are 5
cents and new are 10 cents, with the
sweets at four pounds for 25 cents.
Lima beans remain at 81 quart, but
they are more plentiful and perhaps
fresher looking. French artichokes
are Is cents each, while few Of the
Jerusalem variety are to be had at %
cents a quart.
Cabbage holds the same also--5
cents for the old and 10 cents per
pound for the new. Mushrooms are
SO cents and cauliflower is 15 and 80
cents, depending upon size. Hot
house cucumbers sell for 25 cents
apiece, while parsnips and turnips are
quoted at three pounds for 25 cents.
Kale is to be had at the rate of three
pounds for 25 cents also.
Oranges remain at go to 80 cents a
dozen, but tangerines have disap
peared. Eating apples hold at their
seemingly permanent 5, and 10 cents
apiece. Lines are 35 cents a dazen.
Eggs showed no change during the
past seven days, and the best hennery
variety sell at 40 and As cents a dozen,
with the cheaper grades as low as 80
and even the upper eos. Butter also
holds steady at so and So cents for the
best grades. Poultry is unchanged,
with good frying chickens selling at SO
cents pound and good bakers bring
ing As cents. Capons are so cents
and ducks are 45 cents.
Beef. pork, lamb and veal prices are
unchanged. and they will remain the
same, dealers believe, for several
weeks to come.