Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-11-18
Citrus fruit
HAS MATURED
ERYSLOWL
Crop This Year Sew
eral Weeks Late;
Heavy Shipments In
December Forecast

MISSION, Nov. l7.-Citrus fruit
has matured slower this year than
az any time since the industry was
established IN the Lower Rio Grande
Valley. is the opinion of growers
and shippers. who point to the fact
that much Of the Duncan grapefruit
is not sufficiently matured 70 ship,
aud that very little Of the Marsh is
ready for the market.
In a normal year the Duncan
grapefruit is matured by mid-Octo-
Der. and reaches its prime by the
middle Of November. Marsh a~ttRins
its prime between the middle Of No
vember and the first OF December Of
December, but ths rule does not
hold this year.
Too much rain and not enough cold
weather Is the cause ascribed by To-
cal shippers for the failure OF the
fruit 10 mature rs early as in the
average year. There was practically
no cool weather in October, with
only one o. two cool days in Novcm-
Der. The rainfall in the Mission and
McAllen districts has been consid-
erably lighter than in the rest Of the
Valley. but has been sufficient to
prevent early maturity.
Every little fruit has been avail
able the past two weeks" was the
report Of 4. VI. Meldcn, Of
the Texas Citrus Fruit Growers Ex-
change. "Never in my experience IN
the Valley has the fruit matured so
slowly. The exchange is shipping
out "A mixed ear this week, and IN
cludes practically all the well ma
turcd fruit in this immediate sec
N.a.~ l. - Ill f. L... -. I
ments before December 1. and by
that time the fruit will be up to the
usual Valley standard"
Predicts Good Market
The exchange manager expressed
himself as very optimistic over the
outlook for good markets as soon as
the fruit begins moving in volume.
Many of the shipments sent out early
in the season were far below the
usual Valley standard, IL was stated,
and resulted in a slow market for
succeeding shipments. The past two
weeks shipments have slowed down,
and the markets are again demand
ing Valley fruit.
Shipments from the Mission sec
ton. Mr.. Melden estimated, would
be approximately the same as last
year, the heavy increase TO come
neat year when large acreages in this
part of the Valley will come into
bearing. Practically the same con-
dition prevails in all other parts Of F,
the Valley. ii was said. The total
shipments this season. as estimated
by the exchange manager, will not
exceed 100 cars. |
Sizes this year are smaller than
usual. averaging SOS and smaller.
Ali packing plants report this conGI-
tion. with the percentage eff large
fruit less than last ear However,
there is an active demand for the
smaller sizes. especially in the large
market centers. Most Of the fruit
Is also cleaner than in former years,
indicating that spraying has been
more generally adopted and that
cultural methods have improved.
Expect Superior Quality
Though the fruit has matured very
slowly. experienced predict
that when 10 attains its prime 4
will be superior in quality and fla
vor 70 any fruit the Valley has yet
produced. "The Valley fruit. which
win begin 20 move i'm heavy Volume |
in December, will be in strong de-
mand on the northern markets" was
the prediction Of ono Of the most
experienced growers. Il believe ~
will bc the finest favored fruit the |
Valley has ever produced, and the
mid-season shipments will complete
ly eradicate the bad impression Gre
ated b. the shipment Of poorly fla
vored fruit during the early part Of
The season. I believe the bulk Of
the Valley shipments will prove a
very important factor in building up
our future markets, and We are go
ing 70 need these new markets for
the heavy production next year. 10
II unfortunate that the early fruit.
which successfully passed the test
prescribed by law. did not have the
standard Valley flavor, but the late
fruit will make Up for any deficiency
NJ the early fruit in that respect.
According 70 estimates Of shippers
here approximately 65 TO IS per cent
of the Duncan grapefruit has been
shipped. and the movement Of Marsh
has been very light. The latter fruit
will ~ we'll matured early IN De-
rember. il was stated, and will start
moving i'm heavy volume n first
az the month. BY that time practt-
.callv an Duncan fruit viii he mar
keted. they predicted.