Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
VEGETABLE PRICES
IN SLIGHT DECLINE
Fruits Also LoWer-VoIume
of Car-Lot Shipments
Is Normal.

The fruit and vegetable market
showed q slightly declining tendency
the middle Of April in line with lower
levels for some other farm products,
says the United States Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, Market News Service. The
volume Of car lot shipments is about as
usual for the time of year. This sea-
son has been delayed by weather condi-
tons in the South and no great compe-
tition has appeared yet for Northern
potatoes and onions. Apple markets
have been holding we'll at a level slightly
below the recent highest points, but ex-
port demand has been light and some
OF the stock now packed in barrels for
this trade Is being repackad into BUSH
els for the domestic market.
Apple Markets Quiet.
Shipments of apples from Eastern
districts dropped of considerably during
the first half of April and the output
from Western New York is averaging
now only about 20 cars daily. There
has been very little trading as most
country dealers are holding for higher
prices. Bushel Baldwins, standard size
and grade, bring mostly around 81 80 to
$l.85 at shipping points, and Starks,
SITS to $l.80. UnclasSified Baldwins
ranged 81 40 to $50. Eastern Baldwins
sell at $3.50 to 50 per bushel in the
large city markets, the lower prices be-
ing for apples showing some scald.
Virginia and West Virginia are stjll
shipping about half dozen cars daily
out Of the total of about so cars Of
Eastern apples. Eastern Staymans sell
at 81 to $2.25 per bushel in Baltimore
and Washington. Starks brought S150
to SITS in Pittsburgh. Eastern Wine
sapS sold at about the same range as
Staymans. Ben Davis was reported at
$l.40 in Philadelphia the middle Of
April.
Potato Trade Slow.
The demand for potatoes slowed down
IN mid-April, and prices declined about
points in New York and Maine Many
dealers feel that the market Is showing
only temporary weakness and expect
recovery shortly, since the recent shrink
age in shipments will tend to limit sup
plies in consuming centers. Southern
potatoes have not arrived In any great
quantity. Although comparatively heavy
movement from the Hastings, Fla, dis
trict will be on hand before long, the
crop is late in half dozen early ship
ping Southern States.
Most of the large markets report new
potatoes in moderate supply and de-
mand rather slow. Old potatoes still
find fairly good demand, and supply Is
reported moderate to liberal in Eastern
markets. Price level Of Maine Green
Mountains was being held fairly well In
mid-April at 50 to $2.25 per 100 pounds.
New York Rurals and similar varieties
brought $1.85 to $2.15 in Pittsburgh,
Baltimore and Washington. The Chi
cago market was firm, with many sales
cents higher than for the week before.
Haulings were light and trading slow in
Northern Maine, and prices dropped
about 5 cents further, making a total
decline Of about 20 cents per 100 pounds
since early in the month. Midwestern
and Far Western markets showed some
what better resistance to the recent de-
clines. Most of the growers In Western
New York are reported holding for 81
per bushel and are reluctant to haul to
country dealers at recent prices of 30 to
IS cents. Shipments for the second
week Of April were only 80 cars daily
from the Western New York producing
section and are expected to be still
lighter, because the dealers appear to
have their stocks fairly well cleared out.
The total movement from the State this
season exceeds $500 cars and Is about
300 cars less than were moved last sea-
son to the corresponding time.
Prices OF sweet potatoes show little
change in consuming markets, but
recent price revisions have been slightly
downward at some points. The jobbing
range OF Delaware and Maryland sweets
of the Jersey type was SITS to $3.50
per buShel in mid-April, with most sales
close to 81 in Eastern markets.
Onion Markets Dull.
Shipments Of onions have fallen to
a daily average Of not much more
than so carloads. The greater part
Of these come from Midwestern
sources, although Eastern States are still
shipping half dozen cars a day and
Texas onions are beginning to appear
from early shipping sections. Receipts
Of Northern onions are reported mod
crate in Eastern markets and demand
slow to fairly active. Eastern yellow
stock Is OF variable quality at this time
of the year and sells anywhere from so
cents to $1.25 per 100 pounds, but the
prevailing range Of fairly good stock Is
around 81. Haulings are Light, even at
Michigan shipping points, where several
hundred carloads are reported still
available. Much Of this stock Is badly
sprouted and may not find q market.
The last reported sales were at IS cents
per 100 pounds.
Holdings of carrots are still rather
large in producing sections of the East
and 1t appears now that some of these
carrots viii not be sold at all because
Of the lack Of demand and the lateneSs
Of the season. Recently few sales were
reported from the Rochester, N. Y,
district on the basis of As cents per
100-pound sacks, and there were also
a number of cars shipped to be sold
by commission merchants. The carrot
movement this season from New York
is about 125 cars less than the same
time last year.