Milford chronicle., 1930-08-01
EASTERN SHORE
POTATO MARKET
PRICES ARE Low
Watermelon Season Well
Under Way; More Let
tuce And Celery.


various effects of long continued dry
weather in many parts of the pro-
ducing region. Scattered showers
had by no means fully relieved
droughty conditions. Products ar
irving at consuming markets showed
in size and condition the effect of
limited water supply during the
growing season. Combined carlot
shipments were showing decreases
of about 20 per cent. Sooner or la
ter the lighter shipments were ex-
pected to relieve the depressed levi
of prizes. Most fruits and vegetables
are selling below the prices of a year
ago. Recent falling off in supplies
has shown mainly in melons, pota-
toes, and tomatoes. Some vegetables
and many of the tree fruits were in
creasing in supply with the progress
of the season.
Potato Markets Low
The irregular rate of shipment of
potatoes this month has caused con-
siderable shifting about of the mar
ket price, but near the end of the
month prices of Eastern Shore pota-
toes was down to near the lowest
levels of the season. Shippers in
producing districts could sell only
small percentage of the cars loaded,
and there was an accumulation of
carloads at loading points and at
such diversion points as Pitcairn,
New Haven and Edgemoor. At some
Maryland points it was impossible
to load any more cars until the load
ed ones had been sent out. Grow
ers kept on digging and ther were
large quantities barreled and left in
the field until they could be loaded.
Probably the extremely hot weather
in late July has been injurious to
these potatoes lef outdoors. At
times there were temperatures of
over 100 degrees in the producing
sections.
Extremely light demand was re-
sponsible for the delayed movement
of Eastern Shore potatoes which are
the principal source of the country's
supply just now. Shipments from
Eastern Shore of Virginia and Mary
land have reached about 10000 car
loads, compared with about $4,000
last season. Shippers expect total
will reach close to 10000 if the mar
ket will take them at reasonable
prices. Most of these were likely to
have been shipped out soon after Au-
gust l. The market in producing
sections was close to $2.25 per barrel
in late July with demand and trad
ing light at this figure. A year ago
the price was about $4. he difference
seems to lie in the slack demand
rather than in any great change in
early potato production, although
shipments of early potatoes have
been about 10000 cars heavier this
season.
Extremely dry weather in July
nearly ruined the Eastern Shore Gu
cumber crop. Haulings are light, de-
man slow and markets weak. Grow
ers were receiving through auction
sales 60 to IS cents per bushel for
farm pack in late July. Shipments
are expected to be light from now on
and quality is reported rather poor,
requiring considerable repacking to
secure first-class stock.
Cantaloupes are beginning to move
out of the Salisbury, Maryland, dis
trict, the first carlot going on July
21. The output was becoming fairly
heavy toward the end of July. The
crop seems to have survived the dry
weather fairly we'll.
Apple Shipments Increasing
Carlot movement of the new apple
crop is gaining rapidly. Daily ship
ments from all sources averaged
about. IT'S cars in late July. Prices
of Eastern apples have been showing
a downward tendency, but midwest
ern fruit was holding well, even
showing some price gains. New Jer-
sey and Delaware Transparents and
Williams brought $125 to $1.75 per
bushel in Eastern cities, but some
sales were reported as low as 25 to
rs cents, showing the usual wide
range of the early crop and a general
range a little lower than that of a
year ago. The apple crop in Virgin
ia and West Virginia is reported
short. Michigan has light crop,
but the North Atlantic group was
but the North Atlantic group has
more apples than in 1929. Medium
sized apple crops are tied III
England and on the Continent.
More Lettuce and Celery
Eastern lettuce markets had am
pie supplies of this product in late
July but demand was limited and
prices shaded slightly from those OF
the mid-month. New York lettuce
ranged so to S5 cents per crate of
two two dozen heads. Lettuce acre
age in New York was reduced about
per cent, compared with last sea-
son, but owing to heavier yield per
acre the production according to re-
cent reports is estimated at l6 per
cent above that of last yeGr or pos
sibly a little over two million crates.
Production in Pennsylvania from
about the same area as that of last
season is expected to be slightly
larger than in 1929. July forecast
indicates celery production larger
than last year in New York and New
Jersey. output from Michigan may
be reduced by 16 per cent. New York
and New Jersey celery has been SELL
ing at So to $4 per two-thirds crate
in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, but the
price was $1.5O to 1925 on New York
market during late July.
Nearly one-third of the current
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