Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-25
MEAT USE IN j. S.
|SL|KELY TO ALL
Bio Potato Crop and High
Beef in Prospect-Fruit
Yield to BE Large.
BY J. c. ROYLE.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, July 25,-There is
every indication that the diet OF Amer
lean families will be changed to con-
siderable degree before the end OF this
year. This will be brought about by
natural economic development, caused
by the fluctuations Of prices OF the
necessities of life and the laws OF sup
ply and demand.
There seems every indication that
the dining tables of American families
will carry in the next six months
larger proportion of fruits and vege-
tables and smaller proportion Of beef
and mutton than for many years. This
will be due in part to the fact that
the potato crop promises to be extraor-
dinarily large in nearly all sections of
the country. This will entail lower
prices, despite the fact that the large
Long Island producers and some of
those in the West are storing potatoes
rather than allowing them to go into
glutted markets at the present time.
Beef to Remain High.
On the other hand, there is every in
dication that beef will remain high. AL
ready the high price of beef has re-
stricted demand, according to state
ments today by two of the leading pack
ers of the United States.
The potato acreage, for example, in
the Middle West, is around 5 per cent
larger than it was in 1927. In Penn
sylvania the good old standby, the tu-
Der, is coming down in price. Potatoes
are selling in the market in some Penn
syIvania cities at 20 cents a peck. In
Delaware there has been a decline OF
20 cents barrel on the potato market.
In Montana the potato crop has i'm
proved and the estimates OF total pro-
duction are decidedly larger than the
amount produced in 1927. Production
Of potatoes in British Columbia Is ex-
pected to double that of 1927, with
1850 acres under cultivation. In the
Middle West the yield is said to be
large, although in Michigan, inclem-
ent weather injured the crop earlier
in the year. The Idaho crop has been
favored by advantageous weather.
Beef cattle today are Is per cent
higher than year ago, according to
the corn belt farm dailies, acknowledged
10 be an authority on grain and live
stock situations throughout the country.
Hay is 20 per cent, corn is Z per cent
higher and oats 40 per cent higher,
Lambs are 10 per cent higher.
1t Is estimated that 1t requires 100
pounds of food stuffs to produce
pounds of beef. Beef cattle sales are
now being made at range of $1l.75
to S16.40. This compares with range
of SO to S14.50 a year ago, and with
s7.85 to S1050 two years ago.
There has been a decrease Of about
7 per cent i'll the Spring pig crop, ac-
cording to the Corn Belt Farm Dailies,
and this indicates strengthening OF
hog prices and Of pork products.
Fruit Crops to Be Large.
The fruit crop of the United States
promises to be extraordinarily large. 1t
is evident from the chickering's between
the Gamers and the producers of
peaches in California that no small por-
ton of the crop seems likely to be I'M
harvested. The grape crop will be one
of the largest in years all over the coun-
try and the problem of disposing Of
this yield is worrying fruit growers. The
banana production of central and South
America has been larger than ever be-
fore and bananas are cheaper than they
have been In years. The apple crop
promises to be- heavy. The same may be
said of pears. peaches and other fruits.
OF course. the canning industry will
take care of no small part CO the fruit,
but the big yields and the large packs
are indicating general trend toward
slightly easier prices, even for the pre-
served articles.
It is sure that the American dinner
table will never be without an ample
supply of both fresh and cured meats.
and the statistical situation is such
that present prices of meat products
seem we'll Justified. but 1t is the expert
ence Of dietitians that the lowering OF
prices for some staples, such as po-
tatoes, undoubtedly has tendency to
cause fluctuations of diet throughout
the country.