Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27
PEACH SHIPMENTS
CAUSE PRICE DROP
Heavy Receipts at D. c. Mar
ket Result in Serious
Losses.

OF peaches ITOIH NOlIll Sdl VIM" oAAe
South Carolina shippers this week
amounted to thousands of dollars, &C
cording to reports heard along the
wholesale line this morning, while some
of the Ridgeway, N. c., shippers OF
cantaloupes, for which that section Is
noted, also are reported TO nave sus-
tanned losses. T.,
MT oniy did the peaches come IN
quantities largely in excess OF demands
dealers stated, but many of them came
at most inopportune times, late IN the
day. and would not keep over nlgnt.
i've been in business here the past
"a years." commented one OF tne
merchants, "and never before did 1
witness the like OF condltlons tnat nave
existed this week.
IT'S simply awful to have such an
experience" he added, when II Is
realized the amount of money lost IN
the weeks business.
Motor Truck Shipments.
Most of the shipments Of the North
Carolina fruit, more especially tne
Cantaloupes from the Ridgeway section,
came by motor truck. In several IN
stances. it is stated, truckers had 10
return portions of the cargoes orousnC
here.
One truck driver explained to Star
reporter that his trip from Ridgeway to
this city, a distance Of approximately
400 miles. was made in tri1e less than
2 hours. He left there about o'clock
in the afternoon and reached mere
shortly before midnight, and IN the
morning it was found many of the
cantaloupes were in so advanced
stage of ripening that they failed TO
bring full market prices. :.
THE cantaloupe crop down there;
commented the driver, lis exceptionally
heavy this season and prices mere nave
dropped to so low a marx tnat snip
ments will be reduced or ceased. some
growers already are feeding excess
crops to hogs"
It was said by dealers that the peach
situation during the week has been
much more serious than that involved
in the heavy shipments OF cantaloupeS,
MANY peach shipments resulting In
total losses to consigneeS. DISCUSSING
the situation with Star reporter,
merchant mentioned one shipment O!
considerably more than 1OO baskets OF
peaches from Ruby, S. c., that proved
a total loss.
Loss of this shipment, the merchant
explained, was partly due to the fact
that the fruit reached here late in the
afternoon. a most inopportune time, ana
by the next morning they were SO mucn
decaved that it was impossible to get
so cents a basket for them, the express
charges being around 81.
Government reports showed consider
ably more than 500 carloads OF peaches
being transported over railroads
single day this week, the figures prob
ably not taking in consideration the
thousands of crates being hauled in
private cOnVeVancSS.
Early in the season choice peaches
sold around 81 a bushel basket, the
weather being cool enough to protect
them while in transit Later some OF
the shipments came in chilled cars and
were protected to the extent of reach
ing here in good condition, but many
recent shipments went bad before
reaching their destination, not having
been shipped in chilled cars.
Range of Prices.
Prices have covered an extremely
wide range since receipts became so
heavy, in numerous instances, 1t is
stated, record low prices having failed
to move supplies. Many Of the peaches,
it is stated would not sell because they
were wormy. and the combination of
circumstances meant only losses to
wholesalers.
existed in the potato market, the crop
being much shorter than last year and
prices reported about double. Last
year at this season, it is stated, Vlr-
einia potato growers became disheart-
ened and held back shipments because
of low prices. around So barrel, but
this season. because of the short crop
and high prices, around SIS barrel,
shipments have not been delayed.
E1ich bot
where many potatoes for the local trade
from the Eastern Shore of Virginia and
the Piankatank River section, between
this city and Norfolk, arrive, show de-
cided decrease in receipts this year
compared with last years receipts.
j. H. Smith, master of Municipal Fish
Market, is preparing his annual report
10 be submitted to the District Com
missioners in the near future. His re-
port. will show the quantity. of potatoes
received from the two sections of Vir-
ginia, those from the Eastern Shore
coming mostly by way of Onancock.
During recent Today period, accord
ing to the report of the master of the
market. receipts of potatoes from the
two Virginia potato-growing sections
totaled 1922 barrels, while the same
period last year receipts totaled II, 289
barrels.
While heavy losses were incurred in
the handling of the peach crop and
certain shippers of cantaloupeS met
losses in cantaloupe shipments, business
along other lines during the week was
about what dealers expected. Prices
of poultry fluctuated to a slight extent,
while meat prices continued high, the
increased demand for smoked meats
reducing supplies of smoked ham and
bacon, causing an n2rease CT 2 cents
pound in both meas.
Butter prices chan9.1 bit little, deal
erS reported, while a !; MGR condition
of the egg market resulted in slightly
int 'eased prices for the product of the
heimery. Vegetable prices continued
fairly cheap.
Retailers were on hand early this
morysing looking for best commodities
obtaSnable, and wholesalers were more
thar able to meet demands at prices
about the same as prices quoted yes
terday.
TUday's Wholesale Prices-Jobbers'
Prices Slightly Higher.
Butter-One- pound prints, 43a44; tub,
42a43; store packed. 28a30.
Eggs-Hennery, 37a38; fresh selected,
36a37: current receipts, 80.
Poultry alive-Turkeys, hens, IS;
toms, 80; Spring chickens, large, 34a35;
medium, 49, small, 80; Leghorns, 28a30;
fowls, 32a33; ROSTERS, %; ducks, IS:
keats, young, 6Oa65; old, 35a40. Dressed
Turkeys. 38a40 Spring chickens,
large, 40a42; medium, 37a38; small 35a
So; Leghorns.. 35a36; fowls, 36a37;
ROSTERS. 26; ducks, 2sa3o; keats, goa
100.
Meats, fresh killed-Beef, 241a; veal,
%; lamb. 2Sa30; pork loins, "a; fresh
hams, 3Oa32: fresh shoulders, %;
smoked hams, 80; smoked shoulders,
%: bacon, 28a3O; lard in bulk, Is; in
packages. 16.
tive stock-Calyes 49,. lambs 1915