Milford chronicle., 1931-08-28

Supplies of fresh produce have
been coming to market in somewhat
smaller quantities this month, owing
mainly to moderate shipments of
potatoes and reduced carlot move
ment of peaches, cantalOupes and
melons after the height of the south
ern shipping season. Prices since
the middle of August have held most
of the gain made earlier in the
month on potatoes and onions. These
important products were selling
fairly near the prices of a year ago.
Conspicuous for high jrices was the
lettuce speciality, with quotations
about double those of a year ago but
tending downward again the third
week of August. Unusually low
prices are reported on fruits, in
Guiding melons and cantaloupes.
Potatoes Fairly Steady
Carload shipments of potatoes
have shown a tendency to regain
former volume since the price ad-
vances earlier in the month. Mar
kets became irregular the third
week of August and there were de-
clines in some of the consuming
centers East and West, although
general level of jobbing prices
shows little change. Standard va
rieties sold mostly $1.10 to $1.60 per
100 pounds. Shippers in eastern
producing sections were receiving
81 to $11O. Long Island Irish Cob
blers ranged $125 to $170, with top
price in Pittsburgh. Maine potatoes
of the same variety brought $1.50 in
Boston. Some stock in barrels was
still coming from Eastern Shore pro-
ducing sections and selling in a
dozen large markets at 1925 to
$275. Producing sections in New
Jersey and Long Island reported
weaker conditions, with
slow demand and prices 81 to $1.1O /
per 100 pounds, or 55 cents bushel.
Scattered reports from many dis
tricts indicated farmers were sell
ing much stock around so cents, |
bushel basis.
Sweet potatoes shipments have |
been light so far this season, but i
began to increase after the middle |
of August because of activity from |
the Norfolk and Eastern Shore sec
tions. Arrivals are still moderate
in nearly all markets, but demand !!
is slow and prices tend downward, |
declines of 25 cents per
barrel on North Carolina and Vir-
ginia stock in several large mar
kets. A range of SO to $$4 per bar
rel prevailed on Virginia sweets of |
the Jersey type. Several western !
markets quoted $4 to $3.50 on east
ern sweet potatoes.
Onion Shipments Increase
The carlot movement of onions
lends to increase, with new shipping
sections under way and marketing
encouraged by much higher price
level this month. Prices continued
upward through the third week of
August, with further gains of 5 to
Is cents per 100 pounds in various
eastern markets and corresponding
sharp advances in the Middle West.
New York yellow stock now sells at
81 to $1.25 per SO pounds in city
markets. Eastern Shore stock
lropped slightly below 81. New
Jersey yellow onions reached top of
Il so in Washington, advancing 20.
cents this week. New York quoted
his stock at $1.15 5t5o $1.25. Penn
iylvania onions ranged 81 to $l.lO
n Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Fifty
pound sacks sold slightly higher per
pound than the 100-pOund package,
which is now much less commonly
lsed than in previous seasons.
High Prices On Lettuce
Good lettuce, eastern shipments
nd western, has been selling at
prices highly satisfactory to pro
Iucers this month. The market has
eceded a little since the middle OF
august, but western stock is still
Iuoted at $5 to 81 per crate, in
astern markets, and New York let I