Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-24
FRUIT SHIPMENTS
DECLARED SMALL
Vegetable Supply at Markets
Also Light-PriCeS
4, Unsettled.

smaller than in 1880, says the United
States Department of Agriculture. Bu-
reau Of Agricultural Economics. Market
News Service. Carlot supplies, much
lighter than were arriving year ago,
are reported for potatoes and apples
with increased production and also LOT
onions and cabbage, which are COM
paratively light crops this year. Com
bined shipments of fruits and vegetables
are about one-fourth less than in cor
responding weeks year ago. The llght
market movement seems to result from
not only abundant local supplies, rather
light demand and low prices in the
large consuming markets, but also from
the hesitation of dealers in producing
sections to take the crop out OF grow
Crs' hands in view of unsettled market
prospects The result is heavy holdings
of potatoes by growers, active local Stor-
age of apples and holding for higher
prices of the few crops which show light
production.
Prices of fruits and vegetables the
third week of october continue to show
much unsettlement. Price advances in
different markets and on certain va
rieties are offset by declines elsewhere
for the same product, but the market
action is noticeably free from the sharp
declines that were common throughout
show a tendency to advance, and most
other products are holding recent price
levels.
Apple Markets Irregular.
The apple situation continues to lead
in general interest because of heavy
shipments, often around l 200 carloads
daily, and the unsettled conditions in
producing sections. While production
is much larger than last season, espe-
Cially in the East and South, the pro-
portion of marketable fruit has been
considerably reduced by lack Of size
or by injuries of various kinds. Lack
of good market demand resulted in
failure to harvest about one-third OF
the crop of Summer and Fall apples
in some New York producing sections,
end Baldwins, the leading variety. tend
to small sizes and poor color. Warm
weather late in the season caused small
size and dropping of the fruit in Penn
sylvania and Maryland. In Virginia it
is likely that a smaller proportion than
usual of the crop will be packed. In
Cllcations are that considerable fruit in
all leading Eastern and MidweStern
sections will not find market. Even
the demand for canning, drying and
cider-making is unsatisfactory.
Prices continue about steady in East
ern and MidwesteIn apple regions.
Baldwins sell at 80 to IS cents per
buShel in Western Michigan as we'll
as in Western New York. and 80 to IS
cents is reported Oh Stavman5 in tnc
Shenandoah Valley producing region:
with Yorks 70 to rs cents. Barrel
stock sells at s225 to $3.50 in that
section. The cold storages are being
filled with standard Winter varieties.
The large city markets all report lib
eral supplies and variable demand.
Prices are fairly steady the third week
of October, although most changes are
in downward direction. Eastern Yorks
bring so cents to 81 bushel on Jobblng
sales and Staymans rs cents to 81.
New York Greetings are of good market
quality this year and sell at 81 to sl.2o
in New York and IS cents to 81 in
various other markets. Kings ruled
90 cents in Boston and 60 to rs cents
in PHILADELPHIA Prices above 81 are
quoted for a few varieties with top OF
So on Mcintosh. in New York City.
Pears and Grapes.
Pear markets have been showing good
action this season. Moderate supplies
are still on hand in most cities. NcW
York SheldcnS sold as high as 81 a
bushel in Philadelphia the third week
of October while at the other end OF
the quality scale Kieffers range from
65 cents to 81 in Eastern cities. THIS
variety sells at 85 cents by carload in
Western New York producing sections
with rather slow demand.
Shipments have been rather light
from most leading grape producing sec
tions. The upward tendency prevailing
in mid-October seems to have been lost
since that time and most recent
changes in prices have been downward
with a drop of $3.50 per ton in Central
New York producing sections on Con-
cords White varieties also weakened
a little and slightly lower erape prices
prevailed in Michigan producing sec
tons. On the other hand, California
grapes are selling at well-sustained
prices with output lighter than eX-
pected Sales of Concorcs in Eastern
city markets range about ! cent lower
at 10 cents to 13 cents per 2-quart bas-
ket on jobbing sales. Concords from
New York. Pennsylvania and Delaware
sell at "a cents to As cents per 12-quart
basket in Eastern cities.
Potato Supplies Moderate.
The large Eastern markets report
carlot potato supplies moderate and de-
mand varying from slow to moderate.
Holdings on track has been less excess
sive since the middle Of the month and
prices have shown tendency to re-
cover. Further advances of 5 cents to
10 cents occurred in most markets and
in leading producing sections East OF
the Mississippi during the third week
of October. Holders were encouraged
by an advancing price tendency en- sales
for January delivery. Shipments, al
though somewhat lighter, are still COM
ing IN at the rate of about 1000 cars
daily, of which nearly one-fourth are
from Northern Maine
For a time it was thought that part
Of the Maine potato crop would be left
in the ground this season, but nearly
all the potatoes seem to have been har-
vested filling the available storage
space, and the surplus temporarily
stored in farm buildings. Haulings to
shipping points were moderate, partly
because of unfavorable weather and de-
mand is light. but prices advanced
about cents the Presque Isle district
ranging SO cents to SIS cents per 100
pounds on sacked stock and 43 cents to
As cents on bulk. Similar gains were
reported in New York and Michigan
firm tone of the market and price
ranges OF 60 cents to rs cents. Markets
in Wisconsin and the Far West were
about steady. Maine Green Mountains
advanced cents to 10 cents in Eastern
markets, with a jobbing range of 81 to
S1.25. but Philadelphia declined on this
stock. New York round white varieties
sold at 85 cents to $l.15 in Baltimore,
Pittsburgh and Washington. Pennsyl-
vania cobblers brought rs cents to 81.
Sweet Potatoes Sell Slowly.
Delnar6 e. Jweet potatoes appears
rather slow in city markets and in pro-
ducing sections. Price changes are
irregular, with gains about offsetting
declines in the different markets. Vir-
ginia is still the main source of supply.
Sweets from the Eastern Shore region
sell at 81 to $3.50 per bushel in East
ern markets. with upward price trend
in New York the third week of october
and other markets about steady. New