Evening star., 1931-12-28
PRODUCE MARKETS
IN STEADY TREND
Price Movements Hold Up
Well During Dull Holiday
Season.

The dullness of the wholesale pro-
6uce markets Christmas week was in
shsrn contrast to the activity in retail
trade during the holiday season, SAYS
the United States Department OF Agrl-
culture. Bureau Of Agricultural ECO
norics. Market News Service. In the
producing sections, too. there is the
usual wear end slowing down OF deliV-
cries. trading and shipments. Carlot
movement is in slow volume. Prices are
fairly steady in most lines. few small
declines gave the general market
slightly weaker tone. Onions are an eX-
ception in holding finn position WIN
inward price trend. Good lettuce is
selling well also because OF limited
Western OUTPUT of choice stock. Sweet
potatoes sold a little higher in scme
markets
Potato Markets Dull.
Carlot shipments of potatoes continue
Hobt-daily total from all sections is
only 400 to 500 cars. Haulings from
farm to shipping point are light IN pro-
ducing sections and there is little ac-
tiyitv among dealers and Shippers
Prices held about steady in Western
New York. but demand was slow ana
established values hard to melhtalh.
G-cvcr5 v.2~c receiving mc~t'y 25 cents
r. bu-5-r. hu. IT some points it is felt
ci-cu-t % b1v ION SrCyC.s IT an
t.,.rc r--9. - cents GA.~Hl7C 70 MT
r--i,-- r-,~e r.cstly b-.W-Cl 60 Sn5 o.
co,t- r. lOa-pounl s9Ck. Colder
weather has prevailed in Northern
Maine. but haulings have been rathcr
light. owing to temperature below zero
and deep snowdriftS in some places.
The price paid to growers remains ABOUT
so cents per barrel in bulk. Most OF
the recent buying has been for lmme-
diate needs only. Carlot sales were on
the local basis Of 43 cents per ioO-
mound sack. Maine shipments are lag
eing behind those of last season TO the
extent of % per cent. Maine Green
Mountains follow a steady price range
in citv markets at SIS cents to Sl2O per
Ioo rc,,nds washington reached S125
end various Southern markets Sl.45 10
el60 New York and Pennsylvania
round white varieties brought 80 GEMS
IA 81 in Baltimore and Pittsburgh The
Chicago carlot market is unchanged on
suot sales and on prices for March de-
li-erv.
Shipmentg of sweet potatoes were eX-
tremoly light toward the end OF the
month ana limited supplies were re-
pcrtod in q few markets. Demand con-
tinued slow End there was little gen.
eral change in the price situation al.
though trend Of the chicago market
vas upward. Maryland and New Jer-
sav sweets brought 40 to rs cents
b-i-beI in Eastern markets Eastern
shore stock was steady in Baltimore
1T 25 to 35 cents. but advanced to top
of 65 cents in Washington. New Jer-
kev sweets sold higher in Pittsburgh
end Cleveland at Sl20. Virginia Whlte
vans were stea.y at IS to 60 cents In
Pa!tfmore end Philadelphia. South
Carolina Porto Ricans brought so to 70
cents in Pittsburgh.
Onion Prices Hold.
The shippers Of onions are generally
holding their prices at previous ieyeI
in producing sections. The interest
shown by the city trade has lessened Tor
the time being. Prices at country snip
ring points have been relatively high IN
comparison to quotations in consuming
markets. Sales of 50-pound sacks in
W--tarn and Central New York reacheo
tons of 50. New York and MasSachu-
so.tG yellow varieties sold at Sl6O to
s2lO per so pounds in the large mar
ket~, showing a slight gain in Boston
end steadinesS elsewhere, western
markets showed little further change.
Dizziness prevailed in the cabbage
markets the last half of December.
There is something of a deadlock be-
tween growers and dealers in Eastern
producing sections, owing to recent
slight declines in prices, which growers
are unwilling to accept, but holiday con-
ditions accounted for much Of the IN
action Dealers expect greater market
activity after the new year. Suppnes
are moderate in most Eastern markets
but limited in Boston. Prices were gen
orally steady, but weakened slightly IN
Philadelphia and the Middle West.
General range in Eastern markets was
Sl4 to $40 per ton in bulk. Prices OF
Scuthern cabbage tended slightly lower.
Prices Of New York carrots declined
about 10 cents TO 100 pounds in New
York with jobbing sales at 90 cents to
SlO5. Philadelphia and Washington
markets continued unchanged. The
volume of carrots moving from Eastern
producing sections is small and there Is
little change in price. A few sales
realized 90 cents for 100 pounds. After
New Year carrots from cold storage will
begin to move to market. Michigan
carrots sold lower in Pittsburgh and
there were some declines of prices Of
Southern carrots in several markets.
Co,--y Market Irregular.
Most c. the celery now moving out of
stC"ag2 in western New York is fair
to ordinary in quality and condition.
Only a few hundred cars remain avail
able for shipment Prices at shipping
points have ranged from Sl.l0 to Sl.75
per two-thirds crate. The irregularity
Of the condition of the celery is largely
responsible for the wide range Of values.
Supplies are moderate in most of the
large cities, but we're heavy in Boston
Christmas week and liberal in Pitts
burgh Quality Of Eastern stock was
variable and prices ranged from 81 to
81 per crate. California and Florida
celery was about steady in Eastern
markets
Apple Markets Quiet.
Operators who specialize on apples
In producing sections find trading light
for the time Of year Trend of prices
continues irregular owing somewhat to
variable conditions of the fruit. A large
proportion Of sales of BaldWins in West
ern New York consists Of grades lower
than No. l. Some common storage
Baldwins sold as low as 70 cents per
bushel, and such stock rarely exceeded
go cents Greetings from cold storage
brought SIPS to Sl35. Moderate sup
plies and slow demand are the rule in
conSuming markets. Eastern Stay
mans brought 81 to Sis per bushel
in some markets, but sold at 60 cents
TO 81 in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and
Washington. Eastern Yorks ranged 65
cents to 81 in most markets. Black
Twigs featured the Atlanta market at
SIPS Baldwins ranged IS cents to 81
Mcintosh as usual topped the price list
e