Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-05
VEGETABLE SUPPLY
SHARPLY REDUCED
Prices Turn Upward as Ship.
ments DecIine--Pota-
toes Higher.

supply around the first of December,
says the United States Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Eco
Monies, Market News Service Prices
turned generally upward for the first
time in months. Several products
showing light to medium production
and shipments, including potatoes, on
ions, cabbage, carrots, celery and let
ture, advanced in many markets Other
leading vegetable lines at least held
their position fairly well, although after
the holiday trade had been supplied
there was the usual let-up in whole
sale buying. Fruits did not share the
rising trend of the general produce
market because supplies of apples on
hand continued liberal despite the
rather light carlot shipments as COM
pared with the large production.
Rising Potato Markets.
The potato markets seemed inclined
to reflect the rather strong position of
this product around the first of the
month. Shipments have been at the
rate of only about 400 cars day for a
long time and track holdings in nearly
all the large cities are moderate, Con-
Stunning requirements tend to increase
with colder weather and demand for
low-price vegetables of this staple kind
might be expected to be good, even in
times Of business depression. Price ad-
vances thus far have been small,
amounting to to 10 cents per 100
pounds during November and some
further gains thus far in December
but the stronger conditions did not ap-
ply to all markets. A few of the East
ern and Midwestern potato shipping
points weakened slightly, but others
gained the first week of December, but
Far7 Western shipping points reported
rather strong price conditions. Prices
at shipping stations In Maine and New
York have been holding fairly well the
small advances made near the end of
November. Growers in Western New
York, according to recent reports, were
receiving rs to 80 cents per bushel in
bulk for U. s. No. l stock. Local deal
erS got 10 to rs cents per 100 pounds
for sacked stock and Eastern markets
quoted 80 cents to 81 on this stock
Pennsylvania round whites are steady
at 80 cents to 81. The Chicago carlot
market recorded slight gains. The
slightly upward trend of prices on sales
for January and March delivery in
dicates a more confident viewpoint on
the part of the dealers. New potatoes
from Florida entered the market at
prices lower than usual at the time of
year, selling at SIS to $3.50 per barrel
in joobing trade. About so cars Of seed
stock from Maine were shipped TO
Florida points late in November. Ship
ments to Virginia and the Carolinas
have been extremely light Most seed
buyers were reported holding OF In
hope of buying at lower prices.
Sweet Potatoes.
Shipments of sweet potatoes continue
moderate and most OF the city markets
report only limited supplies on hand.
Demand is light and prices show only
slight gains from the low levels prevail
ing this season. There was an encour-
aging upward tendency in some mar
kets on Delaware, Maryland and Viz
GINA stock Of the Jersey type, early
this month, while prices Of Tennessee
Nancy Halls scarcely held their own.
Virginia barreled stock ranged 81 to 50
in Eastern markets. New Jersey pack
in bushel hampers ranged $1.10 to $l,25.
Chicago market advanced about 25
cents on Maryland and Jersey bushel
stock. North Carolina sweets were
firm in Northern markets.
Cabbage and Onions Higher.
The gradual gains made in cabbage
prices through November have been
maintained so far this month. Cabbage
joins the select list Of vegetables selling
higher than a year ago, these including
also onions, celery and carrots. Cab
bage producers in some important dis
tricts are now getting nearly double
the prices quoted early in the season.
Quotations in Wisconsin and Western
New York are coming nearer together
in range now that most sales in the
Racine district are at SIT ton, COM
pared with S14 to SIS in the RocheS-
ter district. Most of the long keeping
cabbage in Winter comes from those
sections. Cabbage has been meeting
better demand at country shipping
points. Dealers report growers hesitat-
ing to sell. Growers are getting $40
to $l2 a ton. One days shipments
from Western New York recently were
billed to SO different markets, and this
stock has been gradually replacing MID
western cabbage, Prices in Baltimore,
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati advanced So
to SO a ton in early December, and
general jobhing range in Eastern mar
kets Is $50 to $25. Florida and Texas
cabbage also advanced in some markets
Onion holdings OIL track at large
market centers were light in early De-
cember indicating more active trading
by local dealers. Demand at most
markets seemed to be more active and
price trend was sharply upward, with
scattered advances Of 5 to Is cents per
80 pounds. Eastern yellow onions
brought $1.25 to $1.65 in Eastern cities.
This range included widely different
sizes and conditions. Demand was &C
tive and market stronger in Western
New York and Michigan, with sales at
$3.50 to SITS for desirable stock. Far
Western onions also tended upward in
producing sections.
Much Low Grade Celery.
Prices Of celery have been holding
nearly unchanged in producing sections
since the first Of the month It is COM
monty realized that much of the celery
IN storage Is OF only ordinary quality
and condition. Stock that will carry
well and arrive in market showing little
waste commands fairly satisfactory
prices, about 10 per cent higher than
the level of a year ago, but there is
wide variation according to quality and
condition. Since the proportion Of in
fer1or celery is probably greater than
usual, heavy trimming and washing will
be needed in the marketing Of the bulk
of storage holdings. Supplies are mod
crate in most markets and demand slow
to fair. New York celery sold IS to so
cents crate lower in some Eastern
markets, but continued about steady at
81 to 1925 in the Rochester district.
Steady Apple Markets.
Prices of apples show little change
and, in general, there is no distinct
trend up or down. Supplies are medium
TO heavy and demand slow to good in
city markets. Greetings are one of the
few varieties selling as high as they
sold a year ago. Mcintosh, as usual,
tops the market at $3.50 to 50 a bushel.
New York BaldWins of fair grade sell
at rs to IS cents in the large markets.
The prevailing quotation in Western
New York is IS cents, but lower grades
bring only IS to so cents in the Roches-
ter district. Greetings from cold
storage sold as high there as $3.50.
Much fruit is being shipped to cider