Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-08
VEGETABLE PRICES GENERALLY
SHOW DOWNWARD TENDENCY
U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics
Declares Trend to Decline Prevails
With Increasing Supplies.

Most Of the vegetables shared the I'M
settled or downward tendency of prices
on farm produce the first full week of
May, according to the United States
Bureau of Agricultural Economics. APP
pie markets held firmly near the sea-
sons top prices. Scarcity of Northern
onions in good condition was reflected
in higher prices on a few sales. Pota-
toes, old and new, declined generally:
many Southern vegetables tended q lit
tie downward, with increasing supplies.
Potatoes In Liberal Supply.
Shipments Of old potatoes are de-
creaSing somewhat, but the weekly out
put is larger than 1t was a year ago and
the delayed Southern crop Is coming
along actively now at volume about
equal to that of year ago, which
brings the combined potato supply
about to the capacity OF the market.
Maine and Idaho are still shipping lib
orally. Prices of old potatoes show
average decline Of about 10 cents per hun
bred pound sack since the end Of April
and about IS cents from the highest point
Of the Spring rise. They average about
81 lower than year ago, but are close
to the average prices in Eastern mar
ketS two years ago.
Farmers are beginning to pay more at
tention TO the Spring work and showing
less interest in the few thousands car
loads OF potatoes remaining. In North
ern Maine some contracting of the next
crop against fertilizer bills is reported
at price Of 81 per barrel bulk measure.
sales OF MidweStern potatoes at Chi
cago for October delivery rule a little
above 81 per 100 pounds Dealers In
western New York report nearly all
holdings cleared up, and most dealers
are closing their loading stations for the
season. They estimate $50 to 200 cars
left to be shipped during May, but it
Is not easy to get accurate figures be-
cause nearly all remaining potatoes are
In growers possession and scattered
over large sterritory. About 90 cars
were shipped the first week In May. in
GLIDING some seed stock
The seasons output from New York
state, about 1000 cars, is some 400 cars
less than were shipped last season to
the corresponding time Demand and
trading has been slow in the Rochester
district, and prices dropped slightly,
with No. l mostly $2.20 to $2.25 per
150-pound sack. At shipping points
growers were receiving 10 to rs cents
per bushel, but some dealers were offer
ing only so cents. Prices In Northern
Maine held at $1.25 to $3.50 per 100
pounds at shipping stations. Growers
have been getting about $1.75 per barrel,
which IS probably not FAR from average
received for the seasons crop. Holders
still have a few thousand carloads to
ship from this section and are moving
them along as fast as the market win
take them.
Potato prices have been holding rather
firm at Florida shipping points so far
this month at about $3.50 per barrel,
while haulings are reported light and
markets showed declines of about so
cents per barrel, but Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Pittsburgh were firm, and
general range remained at s. to $3.50.
Supplies Of old potatoes were reported
moderate in nearly all markets and de-
n1and limited. Prices Of Maine Green