Milford chronicle., 1930-12-12
WEEKLY PRODUCE
MARKET NOTES

4I44 AAG4AA4 4 4NO 4 L1AJ
The sharp upturn of the market
on many kinds of vegetables was
fairly we'll maintained through the
first week of December. Most of the
produce remaining has gone into
permanent storage and the owners
are no longer in hurry to get them
to market. Weather too has inter-
fered considerably with shipping op-
erations in producing sections
Many shippers East and West have
been holding produce for higher
prices. The combined result of these
conditions was a brisk advance in
prices of potatoes and cabbage, and
more or less of an upward trend on
the other leading lines of green pro-
duce. From a more general point of
view the market gains of late No
vember and early December were a
part of the general recovery of price
values at the time in many other
commodities.
Potato Prices Advance
The leading markets quoted pOta-
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age of about 25c per 100 pounds
higher compared with the lowest of
last month. Carlot potato sales by
dealers at representative country
shipping points ranged from 90c per
100 pounds in the Rocky Mountain
Region to $1.60 in western New
York. Usually in a short-crop sea-
son the price has tended upward
during the winter, and the potato
trade is wondering whether the
present bulge in the market is mere
ly temporary or whether the under
lying conditions are beginning to
take effect. There is considerable
interest in the coming December fin
al crop report and the later reports
of stock on hand January 1, which
are both practically revisions of the
preceding crop estimates. Total
shipments of the late crops so far
are little lighter this season and
the current rate of shipment is less
than in early December last year,
partly because of weather conditions
at shipping points and also because !
some growers are not willing to sell |
at prevailing prices. Comparing the |
market situation with 1921-22, which |
was also a hard-time season and a !
short potato crop, prices have been
ranging relatively lower this year.
Supplies of potatoes are reported
moderate and demand fairly good in |
nearly all eastern markets. Consid-
cradle quantities of potatoes from
Prince Edward Island are to be
found in Boston, Providence, Phila-
delphia, Pittsburgh, New York, and
even in some mid-Western cities.
The island has shipped over half
million bushels of table stock to the
United States this season. Maine
potatoes also are moving over
wide range of market territory be-
cause of shortage and poor quality
of much of the central western
crop. Prices were advancing dur
ing the first week of December, with
a range of $1.75 to $2.25 per 100
pounds on jobbing sales of Maine
Green Mountains in eastern mark
cts. Long Isla1id' potatoes sold few
cents higher than Maine stock.
Pennsylvania or New York Round
Whites were mostly a little below
Maine potatoes. Pennsylvania re-
ceipts sold at $1.60 to $1.75 in Balti-
more and Pittsburgh. From carlot
shipment standpoint, western New
York so far this season has been
rather unimportant as source of
potato supplies. Much of the market
crop has been disposed of by motor
truck. Growers in that section are
receiving low prices of 60c to Csc
bushel.
An upward tendency in sweet po-
tato prices in early December
brought some increase in shipments
from Delaware, Tennessee and New
Jersey, with total daily output some
times exceeding 100 cars, but sup
plies are still light in most eastern
Prices are well maintain
ed at recent advances. Virginia yell
low stock sells at So to $3.50 per
barrel in eastern markets. Some of
less desirable quality brings only
$3.50. North Carolina red stock was
quoted at $1.35 per bushel in Wash
ington, and at SO to $3.50 per barrel
in New York. Delaware and Mary
land yellow sweet potatoes advanced
in New York, but sold about lin
in other markets, with
general range of $1.35 to $1.75 per
bushel. Sales of New Jersey pota-
toes, including house-cured stock,
were at $1.75 to $3.50.
Cabbage and Onions Gain
The beginning of cold weather in
eastern producing sections had
effect on the market
for cabbage, onions and most other
At the same time lower
and snow in some dis
tricts tended to retard shipments.
The demand for cabbage has
greatly improved. There were gains
Of SIS to So per ton at various ship
ping points as compared with the
low points of November The ad-
vance has been fairly we'll maintain
I'd and some growers are holding
back in anticipation of further
gains, since present price levels are
not relatively high. Growers in wes-
.ern New York are receiving $40 to
;12 per bulk ton and occasionally
;13, and dealers ask SIS to SIG at
shipping points. Most of the heavy
holding in storage are in New York
md Wisconsin. A few cars are COM
ng from Pennsylvania and from the
ar West. Pennsylvania cabbage of
he late-keening varieties sells in