Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-31
PRODUCE MARKETS
TRENDS ARE MIXED
Increase in Prices of Some
Products Offset by De-
cIineS Elsewhere.

Gains in prices OF some staple farm
products in October we're Offset by
nearly as many declines, says the u. S
Department Of Agriculture. Bureau OF
Agricultural Economics Market News
Service The same mixed trend OF
prices is seen in the fruit and vegetable
markets Potatoes, onions, field beans
and Western grapes advanced or re-
covered during the month. Cabbage
Eastern grapes and sweet potatoes de-
clined. Celery prices were fully MAIN
tanned at levels fairly satisfactory to
producers. and there was little net
average change in the still irregular
and unsettled apple markets.
Weekly carlot shipments Of fruits
and vegetables have continued 20 to rs
per cent less than they were a year
ago. and the decrease applies 10 most
OF the leading products, whether the
crop was large or small. Growers have
been slow to harvest and sell at pre-
vailing levels, mostly very low COM
pared with last season.
Recent price gains on potatoes were
holding fairly well the last week OF
October. Onions advanced further in
a few markets and celery still sells at
prices much higher than those Of a
year ago. Sweet potatoes, cabbage and
Eastern grapes continue weak features
CTanberries sell as low levels for that
fruit. Apple markets are irregular
with general market conditions un-
changed
Hesitating Potato Markets.
Potato markets we're nearly steady at
the end of the month after having
made net gains of S to is cents per
100 pounds in preceding weeks. Ship
ments have been decreasing lately, but
track holdings continue heavy in large
market centers. Supplies are reporttd
moderate to liberal in most Eastern
cities and demand rather slow. Prices
have been fairly well maintained the
last week of October. Maine Green
Mountains, the leading line at present
follows a jobbing range of CSC to $1.25
per 100 pounds. New York Round
Whites range 90c to $1.15. Pennsyl-
vania stock was mostly 90c to 81. The
Chicago carlot potato market advanced
about SC, and Midwestern markets
were somewhat stronger than those OF
the East
Country potato markets in Northern
Maine subsidized after the gains Of the
week before, but the tone was more
confident and growers were digging
some fields which they had intended
not to harvest at the low prices pre-
vailing earlier in the month. Most OF
the Maine crop is sheltered sufficiently
to Withstand temperatures below the
freezing mark, although there is some
stock that will have to be moved be-
fore cold weather. Conditions also look
better in Western and Central New
York, where growers are receiving
mostly Is cents per bushel in bulk
Many growers who had sold part of
their crop we're unwilling TO sell any
more, preferring to hold for possibly
better prices. Carlot sales were made
on a basis of 81 to S1.10 per $50 pounds
in the Rochester district. Sales of
potatoes for January delivery show adj
vance of about cents per 100 pounds.
Dull, fairly steady markets prevail In
Midwestern producing sections.
Sweet potatoes show fairly steady
market conditions following the declin-
ing trend of previous weeks. About
half the countrys recent carlot supply
is from Virginia. Demand is slow at
Eastern Shore shipping points; haul
ings light and market duh and sales
at rs cents to 80 cents per barrel. This
stock is quoted mostly at 81 to $50
in the large Eastern iobbing markets.
Maryland and Delaware sweets of the
Jersey type sell at irregular prices,
without much change in the general
level at 40 TO go cents a bushel.
Onion Markets Slow.
Supplies of onions are moderate in
Eastern markets, but demand continues
generally SLOW Prices are being well
maintained at the higher level reached
earlier in the month. New York yellow
O17fA frll i0AI i'm nf q
to $1.35 per 50-pound sack Markets in
Eastern producing sections are nearly
steady. Some of the onion dealers in
Eastern and Central New York report
improvement in the demand, and are
inclined to advance the price. Sales in
50-pound sacks, the more popular
package this season, range 95 cents to
$125 in the Rochester district. Most
of the remaining New England stock
is in storage or being disposed of
locally, and the greater part of the
choice Midwestern onions are reported
bought and stored by dealers.
s Cabbage shipments have been too
liberal for the limited demand, and
price levels have been maintained with
some difficulty. Western and Central
New York is the principal source Of
Eastern supply. especially in such large
markets as New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore, and the distribution is wide
spread, extending into Florida, as far
south as Cuba, and into most of the
Southern States. Growers are receiv-
ing mostly Sc per ton in bulk and
dealers get $3.50 to SO at shipping
points. Demand is slow in producing
sections and in the large cities. There
is little recent price change In Eastern
cities, which quote $40 to $18 per ton
in bulk for the long-keeping varieties.
Midwestern markets are about steady,
at a slightly higher level than prevails
in the East.
Much Celery Stored.
The seasons storage movement of
celery was heavy in Eastern producing
sections The report of October %
shows Ala $50 crates in Western New
York storages, an increase of 100000
over the week before, and $1,000 crates
more than were held year ago. After
this week, new storage and Withdrawals
will be more nearly balanced Although
demand was limited, the country mar
kets held about steady for celery of
good quality. Top prices in the Roch-
ester district are 50 per two-thirdS
crate, holding four to six dozen. Some
sales the last week of October indi-
Gated an advancing price tendency.
Supplies are moderate in most city
markets, demand fair, and prices we'll
maintained at a jobbing range of 50
to 50 per two-thirds crate. MidweStern
markets showed little change.
Apple Shipments Heavy.