Milford chronicle., 1931-06-05
WEEKLY PRODUCE
MARKET NOTES

near the END OF May was mostly
fruits and green stuff from the
South. Recent output week by week
has been heavier than it was last
season owing to gains in acreage
and generally better yields. Interest
has shifted somewhat to the new
crops. Berries, asparagus and salad
greens are coming from mid-season
shipping sections. About one in five
cars of potatoes shipped is filled
with old northern stock from stOr-
age. Apple shipments amount to
about so carloads a day, of which
perhaps half a dozen are eastern
fruit. The heavy shipments of most
fruits and vegetables and the slow
demand are responsible for a low
general price level but gaps between
shipping seasons of the different pro-
ducing sections in late May brought
price gains in berries, celery and
lettuce and a firm market position
for potatoes.
Berry Market Firm
The strawberry season by the end
of May extend nOrthward as far as
Maryland in the East and Illinois in
the West. The height of the coun-
try-wide strawberry shipping move
ment seems to have passed, although
important northern shipping states
do not begin until June. Supplies
are heavier than last season but
there was scarcely more than half
a crop then and the present crop, al
though larger, is less than average.
The berry market shows strong
action compared with most other
kinds of produce and prices, al
though less than they were a year
ago, are not especially low and the
recent tendency has been upward
owing to the lateness of some mid
season producing sections. Some of
the highest prices in producing sec
tiOns are those reported from East
ern Shore of Virginia and Maryland
where best varieties brought top of
81 per 32-quart crate near the end
of May, but most sales were from
$3.50 to $3.50. Supplies appeared to
be moderate at shipping points, de-
mand active and market firm. East
ern Shore berries range from 10 to
20 cents per quart in large eastern
llIdl hGIS anu ANOl lO4h OCl ACo q " L -
cents. North Carolina KlOndikes
brought top of rs cents in Boston
but most sales of North Carolina
berries were from S to 20 cents in
eastern cities. Supplies of berries
are likely to continue moderate
through the season, although the 10
late shipping States have a crop eX-
pected to be at least 10 per cent
greater than last season.
Asparagus Sells Higher
Sales of New Jersey, Maryland,
Delaware and Pennsylvania aspara-
gus showed an upward price ten
dency in some large markets, espe
cially New York, reaching $3.50 to
1925 per dozen punches for the large
stalks and $$1.75 to $3.50 for medium
sizes. Lateness of part of the crop
is supposed to account for the up
turn.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey
spinach of the Savoy type brought
rather low prices at rs to so cents "A
bushel. Prices of southern corn arc
tending lower. Southern cucumbers
also bring lower prices. Peas from
North Carolina have been fairly
abundant in most northern markets,
with prices on jobbing sales $3.50 to
50 per bushel. Virginia peas brought
$1.5O to SLIGO per hamper in Balti-
more.
Potato Prices Hold
Although potato shipments are
again liberal from the South, the
markets have been feeling the ef-
feet of previous lighter output. With
market receipts limited, prices were
holding well toward the first of June.
Daily shipments have been averag-
ing about 500 cars, of which about
20 per cent are old potatoes. Move
meut is active from South Carolina
and beginning from North Carolina.
New potatoes of the red varieties are
selling at 81 to $1.15 per 100 pounds
in producing sections and from
$1.75 to 50 in northern markets. The !
white varieties by the barrel bring !
$3.50 to $4 in such markets as New |
York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Old potatoes are selling rather low !
at S5c to 81 in eastern and mid |
western producing sections. Maine |
Green Mountains bring $1.35 to |
$1.S5 for jobbing sales in eastern
cities.
Steady Apple Markets
Apples seem disposed to close the |
season near the top prices. The best |
ones have been selling at So to 1925 |
a bushel in the big markets, which is |
comparatively good for depression !
times. New York Baldwins are
quoted at 50 to 1925 per bushel in
New York, Pittsburgh and Cincin-
matt and Virginia Pippins at 1925 to
$3.50. Shipments of eastern apples
are becoming light but there arc still
fairly liberal supplies of boxed fruit |
from the Pacific Northwest which
has been selling at firm prices late
ly Export movement of apples con-
tinued fairly active to the end. Ship
ments of boxed fruit were liberal to
Germany and the British markets !
took largest supplies of the barrel
pack in the closing weeks of the sea-
son. The new apple crop seems to
be shaping up we'll so far as can be
determined from early conditions.
Unusually heavy production is ex-
pected in Virginia and West Virginia
and easily prospects are fair to good
in the North and West.
Shipments of the early varieties
of Georgia peaches are on the way
and a large output is expected of the
later varieties in that section.