Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-19
PRODUCE MARKETS
IN NARROW RANGE
Seasonal Dizziness Prevails
in ShipmentS-Weather
Is Sales Factor.


quiet since the middle OF December,
says the United States Department OF
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, Market News Service. Dull
trade in the wholesale markets Is not
unusual at this time of year, since the
retail dealers have already been sup
piled and the activity shifts from
wholesale to retail buying. weather,
too, was a little milder than is desirable
for the trade in food products. the
general result appeared in the form OF
light car lot shipments of most fresh
produce, with no pronounced price
tendency at shipping points or In the
representative consuming markets.
Eastern potato markets have made a
better showing than those of the Mid
die West and have held, in a general
way, the price advances made early in
December. The revised crop report re-
Gently issued was not unfavorable to
the market. It is shown that the pro-
duction Is about the same as that OF
| last season. Prices have been lower by
about one-third, which apparently
leaves some room for further advances
II market conditions become more IA
Vorable. The North Atlantic States had
fairly good potato crop and show an
increase OF 90 per cent over the 1929
season. The Far Western States had a
very good crop. The shortage was in
the North Central region, with a de-
crease OF about IL per cent, compared
with last season. Maine, the principal
Eastern potato State, had 10 per cent
fewer potatoes and the price is so low
that the crop is valued at only about
half that of last season.
Shipments of potatoes have been de-
creaslng since the middle of the month,
owing to weather conditions and light
demand at shipping points. Prices
have advanced 5 cents in some produce
ing sections and various city markets
report cent to is cent higher prices.
but the general level has not changed
greatly. Maine Green Mountains were
selling the third week in December at
$l.75 to 5000 per 100 pounds in East
ern cities. Long Island potatoes, as
stock and brought as high as $3.50 in
Washington. Pennsylvania and New
York stock sells at $1.65 TO Sl.75 in
large Eastern markets. Desirable lots
from Western New York brought as
high as So to $2.35 In Washington and
Atlanta. Growers in Eastern producing
sections have been showing little inter-
est in letting their potatoes go at pre-
vailing prices. In Western New York
they are receiving at present IS cents
to 20 cents, occasionally rs cents a
have prevented hauling because Of the
risk of freezing. Most sections In New
York, Long Island being an exception,
have shipped much more lightly this
season. Eastern markets have been
supplied heavily from Maine and Idaho.
Cabbage and Onions Steady.
Shipments of cabbage from all sources
have usually exceeded 100 cars daily
so far this month. Most of the re.
ceipts in Eastern markets are from
New York State, but supplies are in
creasing from Texas, South Carolina
and Florida, sometimes amounting to
about one-third of the daily output.
Prices of old cabbage have held fairly
we'll the gains in price reached early
in the month. The bookkeeping Danish
type sells at $40 to $23 per ton bulk
in most Eastern cities, but went as
low as SIG in Pittsburgh. Pennsyl-
vania cabbage brings $1.15 to $l.25 per
hundred pounds sacked. Occasional
sales Of late cabbage are reported
South Carolina declined rather sharply
in New York and Boston, with sales
mostly $125 to SITS per 1la-bushel
hamper. Nearly all of the large East
ern markets report supplies moderate
and demand slow. Dull markets pre-
vailed in Eastern shipping sections and
loaded cars were accumulated on the
tracks in Western New York.
Onion shipments have been heavy,
at the rate Of so TO rs cars daily, since
the middle of December. Most of the
receipts are from New York and Mid
die Western sources. The large mar
kets are moderately supplied, but de-
mand is slow to very slow and prices
no more than hold their own. New
York yellow stock has been selling at
81 to $1.25 per 100 pounds in Eastern
cities the thiSd week OF December.
Some of the more desirable lots brought
as high as $3.50 in New York. Prices
are unchanged at Eastern and Mid
western country shipping points, with
scarcely enough business transacted TO
warrant quotations. The No. grade
has been holding at around 81 per
l00-pound bag. and smaller sizes at
90 cents at shipping points. The out
put Of onions from New York produc-
ing sections has been heavier than in
any recent year at a corresponding date
Celery Trade Dull.
The anticipated active holiday de-
mand for celery does not seem to have
appeared, either in producing sections
or in the large markets. The demand
has continued rather slow, without any
upward tendency in price. Car lot
sales of tWo-thirds crates OF sizes rang
ing from four to six dozen were made
at SITS and $185 in mid-DecembeF.
A few crates of only fair condition
sold at $1.55. 1t is believed that most
Of the celery remaining IN storage =
now in buyers hands. The latest cold
storage report shows that there were
2I3,l06 crates of celery on hand IN
Western New York on December IL.
This is a reduction Of about $4,000
from the week before, but Is 10000
crates ahead of the holdings the same
time last season. There are some re-
ports of the stock showing deterioration
in storage and present indications point
toward the cleaning up OF these hold
ings as far as possible by the first OF
the year. California has been shipping
more cars than New York. sometimes
90 to $50 a day, and these compete
strongly with Western New York STOCK.
Prices of New York celery range SIZE
to 1925 per crate in Eastern markets.
Few sales of carrots have been made
in Western New York producing sec
tions this season, but large quantities
are reported in storage. The majority
of cars that have moved were billed to
SOUP factories and canning plants.
Sacked carrots in car lots are bringing
SIS to so cents per 100-pound sack.
Washed carrots in bushel baskets are
realizing about the same price as the
rough carrots in sacks.
Despite the increased demand for
some kinds of apples, caused by the
selling activities Of the unemployed in
large cities during the past month,
trading has been light in producing sec
tons owing to the falling of in the
export demand. Sales for domestic con-
sumption have consisted largely of fruit
in bushel packs Baldwins from cold
storage sold at $3.50 for No. stock at
Western New York shipping points,
Greetings are in better supply than
Baldwins in Eastern producing sections
and sell about Is cents lower than that