Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-02
VEGETABLE PRICES
SHOW SHARP DROP
Fruit Values Also Decline in
Last Week, Says U. S.
Survey.

Material declines were reported IN
prices of many Of the more important
lines Of fruits and vegetables toward
the first Of June, says the United States
Department of Agriculture, Bureau of
Agricultural Economics, Market News
Service. Included on this list Of lower
priced vegetables were tomatoes, cab
bage, potatoes and cucumberS. Canta-
loupeS were also lower, but berry prices
held firm. First shipments of peaches
were reported during the third week Of
May and toward the end Of the month
the Florida watermelon movement was
becoming active.
Recent rains improved the condition
OF potatoes and truck crops in a num-
Der of important shipping areas, par
ticularly in the East. The growing po-
tato crop on the Eastern Shore of Vir-
ginia and Maryland benefited to the
extent that growers were ENCOURAGED
about the prospects for their paintings.
First cars OF potatoes from Northamp-,
ton County, Va, were expected to roll
around June 10. South Carolina was
the center Of shipment activity in late
May, and until the crop on the Eastern
Shore is ready for market the Carolinas
will be forwarding the bulk of the East
ern potato supply.
New Stock Shipments.
Shipments of new stock were a little
more than double those of old potatoes
and averaged around SIS cars daily in
late May. South Carolina cobblers sold
in Eastern terminal markets at $3.50 to
SIS per barrel.
There was very little life to the old
potato market, especially at Eastern
and Northeastern shipping points. In
Northern Maine prices dropped from
near 81 per 100 pounds to q 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 prices. One or two cities re-
ported losses Of S to 10 cents, but, as a
rule. sales held fairly steady around the
range Of 1920 to $3.50 per 100 pounds.
Canadian potatoes were still prominent
on the New York and Boston markets,
selling at So to 1925 for 90-pound
sacks. Some sales of potatoes from New
York brought $265 per 100 pounds in
Cleveland and 1920 to $3.50 in Pitts
burgh.
Strawberry production in the late
group of States is indicated in a re-
cent report about per cent less than
In 1929, due to a reduction in acreage
and to slightly lower yields. A crop Of
74,558,O 900 quarts of berries is estimated
4
expects 1858, 900 quarts and Pennsylva-
MIA 6,512 900. This information for the
late States now furnishes a complete
indication of this years commercial
production of Strawberries in the United
States. Although subject to changes
which may be brought about by I'M
usual weather conditions in States
where the crop still remains to be har-
vested, the reports to date show that
the picking acreage is II per cent less
than IN 1929, yields per acre running
about 6 per cent lower and total esti-
mated production about II per cent be-
low that of 1929.
The volume of strawberry shipments
from the Eastern Shore Peninsula was
running far behind the total movement
to late May a year ago. While this de-
crease was due partly to deceased acre
age and lower yields per acre, the sea-
son was also about 10 days to two weeks
later than last year. Local reports
from Delaware growers are that they
expect their berry shipments this year
will be only so to so per cent as large
as in 1929. Heaviest shipments In late
May were coming from Missouri.
Eastern Shore Prices.
Prices were firm on the Eastern Shore
toward early June, with general range
OF So to So per crate cash to growers.
City prices were generally 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 prices Of New Jersey and Penn
sylvania spinach were reported in the
East, mostly around Is to 60 cents a
bushel. Some New Jersey sweet pota-
high as $3.50 to SO a bushel in New
York City. Cabbage markets were gen.
orally weaker in late Nav. Barrel
crates from the Eastern Shore of Vir-
ginia ranged $1.25 to $2.25 in the large
Eastern cities.