Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-28
TRUCK EXPORTS
SHOW DECREASE
Slump Due Largely To Slow
Movement of Cabbage,
Potatoes
By w. d. GOOGE
III. s. Market News Bureau)

Valley shipments of vegetables as
reported Saturday morning were
approximately 400 cars lighter than
during the previous week. The
slump was due largely to the de-
crease in the movement OF cabbage,
beans and potatoes. The current
season for these commodities is
practically over Carrots continue
to hold a prominent place, and
green corn promises to become i'm
portant during the coming week.
Twelve cars of green wrapped to-
matoes were moved up until Fri
day night, also a considerable vol
ume of pinkS in mixed cars.
Despite the heavy shipments Of
new potatoes from Texas and Flor
ida, the demand was heavy on
Monday and Tuesday. Prices adj
vanced quickly from $500 to $3.50
cwt. to growers. and from 1925 to
$3.75 for carloads f. o. b. cash track.
Chicago and other terminal mar
kets were active through most OF
the week. but closed steady Satur-
day. Shipments from the Valley as
reported to date are 1861 cars. or
so cars short of last seasons total.
1t is estimated that about a hun
dred cars remain to be sshipped
from this section. The Sugarland.
Wharton and Eagle Lake sections
will begin Shipping about May 10.
A feature Of the potato deal has
been the advance of prices as the
season progressed. Usually the re-
verse IS eXpectd. Last vars crop
Of old potatoes carried over through
the winter was the largest on rec
ord, and in many sections they
were considered practically worth
less. A number of factors have
contributed to the strength Of new
potatoes, the principal one perhaps
being generally mild weather in the
large consuming centers which Gre
ated a good demand for new pota-
toes, green beans and other spring
vegetables. The average daily con-
sumption of potatoes in the United
States is above 600 carloads, or
more than a third of the entire crop
from this section. The quality of
the Valley product has been excel
lent, and the larger size require
ments for the U. S. No. l grade
have improved the appearance Of
the stock in the markets.
Little change in prices were re-
ported on other commodities, the
week closing with market condi-
ions being reported steady to
firm. The demand for practically
all vegetables has been moderate to
active. Good beans were hard to
get, and prices ranged from $50
to $3.50 per hamper to growers IN
accordance with the quality. Ma
ture green tomatoes were bringing
. and 6 cents per pound and pinkS
around S1.50 per flat crate. The
tomato outlook is bright, due to
the uncertain conditions that exist
IN Mexico which is a heavy ship
per OF the crop at this time of the
year. A few carlot sales of the
Valley crop have been reported at
S3.5O-3.75 per lug f. o. b. cash track.
Among the shipments reported
Tor the week r 1873 cars of cab
page. n beets, 218 carrots, SO beets
n carrots. 1874 potatoes. 81 green
beans, II tomatoes, 81 green corn
and 24O mixed vegetables. The to-
tai freight shipments to date this
season are fruit 1929, vegetables
l8,2O6, or a total of 1885 cars
This total is 3O4 cars short of the
entire freight movement on the
missouri Pacific and Southern Pa
CHIC lines from the Lower Ric
Grande Valley last season. The
tomato and green corn Shipments
are just beginning, and there ARE
hundreds Of cars of each of several
otner commodities to be shipped be-
lore the season closes. 1t is esti-
mated that the total movement of
fruits and vegetables this season
VIII be about 5000 cars.