Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
WHOLESALE TRADE
IN MARKET GOOD
Weeks Volume Of Business
: Heavy-some Produce
" Scarce, Due to Heat.

A steadily increasing volume of
business In the local wholesale market
was reported at the closing Of the
weeks market yesterday, many ner-
chants attributing the increase TO the
number Of persons remaining at home
during the Summer season and the con-
tinued influx of visitors.
1t has been reported to market deal
ers from time to time that the number
of visitors here this season has prob
ably been greater than during most
heated periods.
Market business has kept up remark
ably we'll during the vacation season,
according TO reports, and the reas-
sembling of Congress-, the Senate Au-
gust 10 and the House September %,
is expected to benefit merchants along
all lines of trade, more especially those
engaged in the sale Of foodstuffs.
Fruit dealers did not experience q
repetition of their losses of the previous
week, having called halt to the ship
nent OF fruits that were so ripe when
gathered that they were unfit for food
upon arrival. @
Rain Long Needed.
Yesterdays rain was given hearty
reception by dealers in fruits and vege-
tables, more especially the latter, and
hope was expressed that there would
be no cessation of the downpour for
the next day or two. It was reported
that several sections of Maryland and
Virginia were visited by rain Thursday
night, but 1t was of short duration. al
though growing crops received some
benefit.
Absence of rain the past month
played havoc with growing crops in
nearby and distant States, according to
reports received by local wholesalers,
sending prices Of some commodities far
above prices usually prevailing at this
season. Both the potato and tomato
crops were seriously affected and prices
scared. i
Growers on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland and Virginia, where so many
potatoes are grown, have been unable
this year to supply the local trade any
thing like the quantity Of the vegetable
shipped here last season. and prices
yesterday. around $3.50. and 81 a barrel,
were approximately three times as great
as last years prices. '
Tomatoes Are High.
Tomatoes, usually sold at less than 81
bushel at this season of the year, have
sold around $3.50 and 81 bushel the
past week or more and, according to
dealers, rain is the only thing that can
rescue the growing crops. Should
weather conditions become more favor
able and the late crop turn out good,
dealers say they will find much salts
faction and forget prevailing conditions.
"One great trouble with the average
consumer said a wholesaler, lis that
they think high prices mean much more
in the procketS Of the sellers.
Such, however, Is not the case" he
added. when prices are high 1t always
is necessary to cut margins, making
business of both wholesalers and retail
ers less profitable. 81.
'"This rule" he concluded. applies to
the handling Of practically all food
stuffs."
Cheaper lamb and chickens were the
interesting features Of last weeks mar
ket, while prices Of most meats con-
tinued at the prevailing high mark of
the past few weeks. Decreases in the
price of Spring chickens resulted from
much heavier receipts, and dealers con-
tinue to complain that so many very
small chickens are coming from the
several poultry-raising sections.
1.-THE small and poor chickens" OBJ
served a dealer, ARE never In demand
and have to be sold at prices far below
prices of the larger and latter
chickens"
Should Keep Chickens Longer.
It was suggested by the merchant
that raisers would benefit from keeping
the chickens longer and that consumers
would be better satisfied even II higher
prices were demanded for them.
Poultry dealers continue with sup
plies of turkeys for the hotel and lunch
room trade, sales during Summer sea-
sons the past few years being much
heavier than during similar periods |
years ago.
There has been a shortage Of water |
melons most of the season. When the |
first melons reached here from Georgia |
Iva fai VI Largo quantities. and |
cheap prices prevailed for a. snort
period. Receipts soon became lighter,
however, with prices steadily advancing, |
and this week dealers received choice |
fruit from North Carolina that found
ready sale at 81 and SIPS.
CantaloupeS came In such large guam |
titles that prices dropped about as low |
as any prices reported the past 10 years |
The poor quality of much OF the fruit. |
according to dealers, increased sales OF
honeydews and honeyballs.
Most Fruits Plentiful.
Most varieties of fruits continued In |
plentiful supply during the week. The |
supply of California cherries Is about ex- |
hausted and there are few pinapples |
being oflered the trade. The pine. |
apples are not very large, however, and !
Several varieties of vegetables, af-
fected by the continued hot and dry |
weather, were not so plentiful the past |
week and higher prices prevailed. Cab |
bage prices probably took the greatest |
jump. going to 50 a basket.
Dealers at Municipal Fish Market had
supplies of marine products, more than |
ample to meet demands throughout the
week. most of the fish coming from the
North and chesapeake Bay and tribu- |
taries. Practically no fish were re-
ceived from the South.
Hard crabs continued plentiful and
cheap throughout the week, and soft
crabs were more plentiful and cheaper
than the preceding week. Crabmeat
was more plentiful than ever, dealers re-
ported, and cheaper prices prevailed.
Dealers reported virtual cleaning
up of supplies Of perishable commodities
at the close of the weeks market. Ad-
dition supplies Of shippedAtn fruits and
vegetables are expected to reach here
In time for the opening Of the coming
weeks market, when increased business
Is expected