Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-14
UPTURN IN POTATO
MARKET IS NOTED
Scarcity of Shipments Re-
suits in Price Advance.
Demand Active.

An upturn in potato prices toe
place Just before the middle Of THIS
month owing to probably temporary
causes, says the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Bureau of Agri-
cultural Economics, Market News SerV-
ice. Wet soil interfered with digging
and shipments in Southern producing
sections and daily carlot output for
while was scarcely more than 500 cars,
compared with nearly 1000 daily the
previous week. Carolina potatoes adj
vanced nearly 81 a barrel in some
markets and there were gains OF 10 to
Is cents per 100 pounds on old potatoes
in Northern Maine, also higher quota
tionS on Maine potatoes in New York,
but most consuming markets remained
about steady.
Demand for potatoes has been active
this season and the underlying position
seems TO be fairly good. According to
trade reports the output for June will
hardly be greater than last year ald
probably much less than in June Of
1926 or June, 1927. Acreage has in
creased somewhat but dry weather cut
down The yield in some districts. Pro-
duction in 10 early States, according to
the June crop report, is only about one
and-one- quarter million bushels greater
than the light output of last season.
Early digglngs from Northern produc-
ing SeCClOnS seem IlKcly 10 IlIlu MARKETS
only moderately supplied.
Prospect in Virginia.
Virginia, which regularly ships one
third to one-half of the carlots of early
potatoes, seems likely to have about
the same output as last season unless
recent rains have increased the yield
considerably. Virginia will be heavy
shipping section in July, also Kaw VAL
ley, Kans., and liberal supplies from
New Jersey may be expected in August.
New Jersey lettuce has been meeting
with active competition from California
and Washington and much of the New
Jersey stock has been of ordinary quail
ity. Sales at % to so cents per two
dozen crate were reported in New York,
the second week of June. Receipts were
moderate to liberal in Eastern markets
Another year of moderate produc-
ton of apples is in prospect, according
to the June report, although the output
may be a little larger than that of
1929. Condition in Virginia is rather
low at "a per cent, compared with
81 last year, and in Maryland also the
percentage of so is lower than that of
June 1929 The North Atlantic States
may produce a few more apples than
last season but decreased productiorF
seems likely in the West. A good crop
of early apples IS expected in producing
sections of Delaware, but crop prospects
are reported only fair in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania and light crop oA
Baldiwns the leading variety, is pre-
dicted, in Western New York. Apples of
the 1929 crop are nearly out of market,
but scattering sales are reported in
Eastern markets at $3.50 to $3.50 per
bushel basket. Early apples are begin
ming to appear in Southern markets.
Holdings of apples in cold storage
on June l were $4,000 barrels, COM
pared with 100000 barrels June l last
year; 100000 bushel baskets against
100000. and 100000 boxes compared
with $4,000. Holdings in the Middle
and South Atlantic States were $4,000
boxes. In storage in New England 5000
boxes and 10000 baskets were reportedA
Peach Crop.
Conditions of the peach crop as re-
ported in June was lowest since 1921
and total production on basis of condi-
ton would be little less than last
year or the five-year average. Eastern
markets are being supplied mainly from
Georgia and North Carolina They are
mostly small and sell at 81 to $3.50
per six-basket carrier in Northern
markets, but large sizes sell higher. up
to SIS in New York the second week Of
June.
Outlook for the pear crop is slightly
better than for apples, owing chiefly to
large production expected in the Pacific
Coast region and favorable conditions
in Western New York, but light set
is indicated, according to the June
report. in the Central and Southern
States. Combined production may be "A
little larger than last season and the
f1ve-year average, but the prospect Is
for light yield in Maryland, Virginia
and West Virginia.