Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
BERRY SHIPMENTS
INCREASE RAPIDLY
Potatoes, Cabbage and Other
Produce Appear From
Northern Markets.

Agricultural Economics, Market News
Service. Berry shipments are active
from the latitude of Delaware, west
ward. First cars Of Eastern Shore po-
tatoes are expected to move from
around Cape Charles by the end OF the
first week of June, but shipments from
that vicinity will not become active
until near the middle Of the month, &C
cording to present indications. CABBAGE
is on sale from Virginia and Tennessee,
but liberal supplies are still coming from
farther south. Asparagus begins 10 IAN
off when the Northern crop OF green
peas starts moving. shipments OF
greens also decrease under sUch compe-
tition.
From that seasons crops In storage. a
few carloads Ct Eastern apples are sun
shipped every day and considerable
boxed fruit is still coming from the
Northwest. Prices Of apples held up we'll
to the end of the season. General price
level of green produce is already. low
but the usual slowly downward tend
ency is evident with the progress OF the
season and the increasing carlot supply.
Some lines are selling at wholesale from
one-half to two-thirds the prices quoted
a year ago. A few lines, including
strawberries, compare fairly well IN price
with the market level CT June, 1880.
Berry Markets Irregular.
Prices of Strawberries are hard TO
compare with those of the season be-
fore because of the difference in earll-
ness and the variations OF markets in
different sections. With the flush OF
receipts from the Eastern Shore region
prices declined somewhat during the
IL 80 T,,H1A 10 a holnW fh2f
of the season before, while MidweStern
cities, although quoting lower prices,
, were still near the level of June, 1880.
The movement of Eastern Shore straw
berries has been fairly heavy, amount
ing to nearly 100, 900 crates within a
week by motor truck alone. The truck
! movement amounted to 800 CARROTS, or
close to 81 per cent of the total ship
ments. Apparently the height OF the
Shipment came near the first of the
month. Most of the berries have been
coming from Virginia and Maryland,
but Delaware is fairly active this week,
while the Virginia districts are ap-
preaching the end Of their active sea-
son. Maryland Eastern Shore ship
ments are likely to last to the middle
of the month and those from Delaware
still longer. Actual length of the sea-
son depends upon the weather. Pres
Maryland and Delaware will not exceed
that of last season.
Reports of prices in producing Sec
lions vary widely at range OF $3.50 TO
$500 per 32-quart crate, depending
upon crop conditions in the particular
district and the variety quoted. The
bulk of sales in Eastern Shore produc-
ing district might be quoted $3.50 to
81 for most lots and varieties. This
l. 20 Iaf linz of
same time last year, but shows a sharp
reduction from the prices prevailing
early in the local season. On the whole,
conditions so far in the strawberry Sec
tions of the South and intermediate
States have been rather encouraging to
Northern growers, as rejecting probable
conditions for the rest of the season.
The crop is a moderate one although
larger than that of 1880, and demand
has been good. enough to take care of
shipments at reasonable price levels for
good fruit.
Most Of the markets in early June re-
ported moderate carlot arrivals and fair
to good demand at steady or stronger
prices.
Potato Market Fairly Steady.
The potato market has been holding
fairly we'll the first part of June for
is a slightly downward tendency of
prices in some markets. The new crop
activity is in the second early States and
interest begins to move Northward to-
ward the Eastern Shore district, the
great source of supply in the early
Summer months. Potatoes in that sec
ton have been getting about the right
amount of rain in May and early June,
but some fields were reported showing
irl,k IAy of L. !
fields seemed to be recovering in early
June. Growers say that yields in such
fields will be light, but the proportion
of the entire crop lost from this cause
probably will be small and indications
still favor production exceeding last
seasons output. which amounted to
nearly 10000 cars. Shipments from
around Cape Charles started early in
June and active market movement was
expected before the middle of the
month. This means some overlapping
with the still heavy shipments from
North Carolina.
Most of the large markets report
supplies of new potatoes moderate and
demand slow to fairly good. Most
price tendencies were downward the
first week in June, with declines
amounting to 25 to so cents per barrel.
Some lines of Southern stock held
Ialrly SLeaQy. NCrCn Carolina white
potatoes sell at SO to $325 per barrel
in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. South
ern red varieties are selling low in
producing sections at 80 cents to 81
per hundred pounds.
Old potatoes sell in Northern pro-
dueing sections at rs cents per hun
dred pounds. Most of the output is
from Maine and Idaho, both of these
sections having exceeded most of the
early estimates. Sales of Maine stock
in Eastern markets are mostly from
SIPS to $3.50 per hundred pounds for
sacked stock. New York round white
potatoes sold in Pittsburgh at $135 to
$140. Washington reported 50 on cid
stock.
Sweet Potatoes Scarce.
Probably among the last sales of
sweet potatoes for the season were
those reported in New York early in
June at $3.50 per bushel basket. These
were New Jersey yellow potatoes out
of storage.
Another line of storage produce
which held prices we'll was the Bald
win apple This was. quoted at Balti-
more, Pittsburgh and New York at
$500 to $40 per bushel the first week
of June. This variety has been good
seller through the season. on account
Of its comparatively light production In