Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18
TOMATO GROWERS
REAP BIG PROFITS
High Prices Also Prevail for
Potato Crop-0ther Veg.
etabIes Cheaper.

close Of the weeks business. In some
quarters 1t was said the week was sat-
1Sfactory, while in others 1t was de-
clared. business was about what might
be expected the middle Of August.
Fruit and vegetable dealers said
during. the week, although potato re-
ceips the latter part of the week showed
q decided falling of, with correspond
ing increase in prices, these at the
close Of the weeks market being around
81 and $2.25.
High Potato Prices.
About this time last season, accord
ing to reports, growers Of potatoes on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland were
holding back their supplies because of
cheap prices prevailing here and else
where. prices being so low that they
scarcely got enough to pay for the cult
walton Of them.
This season, however. high prices
came early and continued without much
change. It Is said the scarcity OF the
failure OF growers to do their usual
amount OF planting. but because Of q
shortage in the yield.
Not only was this shortage expert
enced In sections where potato growing
u the chief industry, but also In nearby
sections where only small quantities
are grown.
II planted the usual quantity of seed
potatoes this season." said a farmer
on small SCALE" and when time came
Tor gathering result of my efforts I was
surprised to find the yield was only
about half Of last years yield"
1t Is believed that recent rains in
nearby Maryland and Virginia will
mean much to the growing crops Of
late potatoes. Farmers also feel hope-
1ul that recent rains will assist late
crops Of tomatoes.
Farmers with fairly good crops of
tomatoes this season have reaped much
better results than when they had
bumper crops In past years. primes this
season having sold at prices ranging
from 81 to $3.50 for tWo-peck baskets.
cuilS bringing as much as 81 at times.
The past few days dealers received
quantities OF green tomatoes suggest
ing close picking, and reports do not
suggest much more plentiful supplies
the coming week.
distant points in Virginia and North
Carolina did not have the effect of
decreasing the output Of lima bsans,
dealers receiving them In such large
quantities that prices dropped to a
low mark, in q number of instances.
according to merchants, shipments were
refused. They sold below 81 a basket
yesterday. the wholesale price being low
enough TO permit retailers TO sell them
AZ pounds for q quarter.
Other Cheap Vegetables.
Squash and peppers were other vege-
tables that sold so cheap that growers
complained Of losses, peppers selling as
low as 30 cents . bushel during the
closing hours Of the weeks market.
The squash sold at prices cheap enough
to enable retailers to sell supplies Is
low as 3 pounds for o dime.
Very few peas are being grown near
by so late in the season, dealers report,
but there may be some to be had later
in the season. Supplies being offered
are mostly from Colorado. coming in
45-pourd boxes and selling at $3.50
and S.. Plentiful supplies OF several
smaller vegetables were reported dur
ing the week.
continued heavy throughout the week,
some fairly large shipments Of both
the fruits reaching the market yester-
day. almost too late to claim attention
OF buyers. Peaches received yesterday
were f1rm and in good condition gen.
orally. merchants reported, and part
Of the shipments may have to be car
REQ over untll tomorrow.
Peach growers in Maryland and Viz
ginia, some within less than 20 miles
Of the city, supplied show fruit several
times during the week, the extra size
fruit selling around 50 a bushel basket,
something like twice the price brought
for ordinary stock. Because Of plenti-
full supplies Of the fruit, merchants
and representatives Of the Agriculture
Department this week urged house.
wives to do their canning.
Anne Arundel County, Eastern Shore
OF Maryland, and nearby growers con-
tinue to supply local dealers with can
being SO heavy that prices dropped to
the lowest prices that have prevailed
In years Retailers yesterday offered
small "lopes," as the fruit is called by
dealers, as low as q for a quarter.
Watermelon Supplies.
Watermelon supplies continued only
fairly heavy during the week, but many
Of the melons were as large as any
ever brought to the local market. Some
Of the largest fruit, weighing approx
mately go pounds, came from the Rap
pahannock River section Of Virginia
and sold IS high As $1.25, finding ready
sale at the price quoted. A drop in
prices was reported during the closing
hours Of the market, dealers wanting
to clean up supplies.
Apples were received in liberal
quantities during the week, supplies
being chiefly Of No. 1 quality and much
OF 1t being show fruit. Prices, as to
to 50, some not so good selling slightly
lower. Dealers predict heavy receipts
Of the fruit and cheap prices during
the Fall
Numerous other fruits from nearby
and distant places were offered the
retail trade the past week. Blackberries
and huckleberries continued in heavy
supplies later than usual, dealers re-
ported, and small quantities of straw
berries also were received. The receipts
Of strawberries were too small to quote
prices.
Increased receipts and lower prices
Of chickens was the interesting feature
Of the weeks poultry market. Spring
chickens always are In demand, ire
Spcctive of the season, according to
dealers, but the demand increases when
prices drop.
Meat prices have remained almost
stationary during the week, especially
for fresh killed, but lower retail prices
have been quoted by numerous retailers.
There has been a greater demand for
smoked meats reported, and prices OF
such meats have increased since the
beginning of the Summer season.
Interest in the butter and egg market
always II taken by dealers and con-
sumers. Butter prices this week have
remained almost stationary, while
there has been an easing Of the egg
market, with q slight drop in prices.
Because of the continued Summer
weather, it Is stated, Gambling losses
continue heavy.
Losses In Trade.
Many Of the current receipt supplies,
1t is stated, have failed to keep UP to
n Nal. .tardard resulting In Losses Ia