Milford chronicle., 1930-06-06
PRODUCE MARKET
NOTES

+, Material declines were reported in
prices of many of the more impOr-
tant lines of fruits and vegetables
It toward the first of June. Included
on this list of lower-priced vege-
tables were tomatoes, cabbage, pota-
toes and cucumbers. Cantaloupes
were also lower but berry prices held
firm. First shipments of peaches
were reported during the third week
tOf May and toward the end of the
month the Florida watermelon move
.ment was becoming active.
" Recent rains improved the condi-
tioh of potatoes and truck crops in
X i number of important shipping
areas, particularly in the east. The
growing potato crop on the Eastern
Shore of Virginia and Maryland
benefited to the extent that growers
were encouraged about the pros
poets for their paintings. First cars
Of potatoes from Northampton coun-
lNty Virginia, were expected to roll
around June TO- South Carolina was
the center of shipment activity in
late May and until the crop on the
Eastern Shore is ready for market,
Nthe CarOliras will be forwarding the
bulk of the eastern potato supply.
Shipments of new stock were a little
Whore than double those of old pota-
toes and averaged around $50 cars
daily in late May. South Carolina
Cobblers sold lower in eastern termi-
nal markets at $3.50 to IS per bar
rel.
There was very little life to the
old potato market, especially at east
ern and northeastern shipping
points. In northern Maine, prices
! lydropped from near So per 100 lbs.
to range of $1.55 to $1.60 during
the closing week of May. Inquiry
was limited even after this decline.
In city markets, however, there was
( no general decline on Maine potato
pricese One or two cities reported
losses of 5 to 10 cents but as rule,
sales held fairly steady around the
range of 1920 to $3.50 per 100 lbs.
Canadian potatoes were still promi-
nent on the New York and Boston
markets, selling at SO to 1925 for
90-pou1ld sacks. Some sales of po-
4 tatoessffoms New York brought $2.65
per 100 pounds in Cleveland and
$2s20-$230 in Pittsburgh.
Strawberry production in the late
group of States is indicated in a re-
cent report about 8 per cent less
than in 1929, due to a reduction in
acreage and to slightly lower yields.
A crop of 74,558, 900 quarts of berries
is estimated for this group. OF this
total New York expects 9,658,0O0
quarts and Pennsylvania 6,512,o0O.
This information for the late States
I now furnishes complete Indication
! of this years commercial production
/ of Strawberries in the United States.
sAlthougl1 subject to changes which
! may be brought about by unusual
weather conditions in States where
the crop still remains to be harvest
4 ed, the reports to date show that
{ THE picking acreage is IL per cent
less than in 1929, yields per acre
running about per cent lower and
total estimated production about II
pet cent below that of 1929.
\ The volume of strawberry ship
ments from the Eastern Shore Pc
(ninsula was running far behind the
s total movement to late May, a year
ago. Wlll6 lliS uSCIGdo6 Wdo uuO
a partly to decreased acreage and low
! er yields per acre, the season was
also about ten days to two weeks
iater than, last year. Local reports
from Delaware growers are that they
Iexpect their berry shipments this
year will be only so to 60 per cent as
large as in 1929. Heaviest shipments
S in late May were coming from Mis-
souri,. Prices were firm on the East
ern Shore toward June with gem
eral range of SO to $6 per crate cash
ito growers. iCty prices were gener-
ally firm, but poor quality berries
tended to depress the market in some
cities. Various varieties of berries
sold at a general range in terminal
markets of 10 to 20 cents, quart
basis. ~. .....,.
A few sale Of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania spinach were reported
i in the east, mostly around 25 to 60
4 cents bushel. Some New Jersey
sweet potatoes are still being ship
ned and sold as high as $3.50 to So
! 4 bushel in New York City. Cabbage
markets were generally weaker i'll
Yate May Barrell crates from the
Eastern Shore of Virginia ranged
S1.25 70, $2.25 in the large eastern
cities.