Milford chronicle., 1931-07-03
Produce Market Notes

Some kinds of green produce
shared in the sharp rally of the
commodity markets in late June.
Cantaloupes, lettuce, onions, and old
potatoes advanced but price gains
were not large and they did not ap-
pear in all markets. The main
course of prices is still downward
as usual at this time of year when
increasing supplies are pouring from
all directions into the great consum-
ing markets. Many kinds of produce
followed the downward trend of such
leading lines as potatoes, peaches,
and melons,. Truck crops are pro-
ducing well; fruit is in liberal sup
ply. The carlot movement near the
height of the midseason shipping pc
iod is impressive with shipments
well above 5000 carlots daily which
means that or 8 cars are starting
out for market every average min
ute throughout the day and night.
Each carlot means activity from the
field and packing house to the ship
ing station and again at the city
market. Considerable surplus labor
has been taken up in the work of
marketing the summer crops.
Potatoes Lower
Perhaps the most impressive fea-
ture of the market picture toward
the first of July is the movement of
the Eastern Shores 10000 carlOt
crop of potatoes, the mainstay of the
pOpulace eastern half of the cOun-
try during a large part of the sum-
mer season. A few little counties on
the end of the peninsula between
the bay and ocean sent out train
load after trainload of early pota-
toes every day until all the great
markets received liberal supplies.
Shipments of Eastern Shore pota-
toes started at the rate of 100 car
loads daily but they are rapidly in
creasing. There are still many cars
arriving from North Carolina which
previously furnished half the daily
supply. Most Eastern Shore car
loads have gone to cities in Pennsyl-
vania, New York and New England
States. Canadian markets have been
taking considerable quantities, par
ticularly Montreal and Toronto. A
few cars have been billed to Ohio,
Michigan, and Indiana points but as
yet this midwestern movement has
been light. An average of probably
one-third of the total Eastern Shore
shipments has been billed to diver
sion points, such as Edgemoor, Buff
falo, New Haven, and Bridgeport.
Results so far have been a little dis
appointing to growers even in a
year when low prices were expected.
Most sales of North Carolina and
Eastern Shore potatoes brought only
$3.50 to $1.75 per. barrel in New
York at one time and markets weak
ened correspondence in producing
sections. Some shippers were conf
dent that lowest prices Of the sea-
son had been. reached and that mar
kets would recover after North Car
oliha had cleaned up its crop by the
end of June.
Eastern Shore was. expected to
ship 1000 to $500 cars the last week
Of June. Haulings are reported fair
ly heavy at shipping points. De-
mand was fairly good and market
firm at about $1.75 barrel. A year
ago Eastern Shore potatoes were
selling in producing sections at
1925 to $3.50. The large eastern
markets report supplies moderate
to liberal except at Boston where
receipts are light. Demand is gen
eraily slow and most price changes
the last week of June.
The range in five large markets was
$2.25 to $2.75 per barrel on Eastern
Shore stock and SO to $3.50 for
North Carolina potatoes. Prices in
most western markets showed sim
liar weak tone but declines were
slight.
A few carlots of old potatoes
move to market every day but re-
ceipts are light mall eastern mar
ketsi and demand at this time of the
year very limited. Some buyers
even in midsummer insist on old
stock and the market lately has been
good for sound, firm Green Noun
tains from Maine, around 50 per 100
lbs. in at least four of the largest
eastern markets. To a limited ex-
tent old potatoes have been selling
higher than the new crop.
!. The northern onion season begins
with small arrival of standard yell
low stock from Virginia. The great
er part of the supply is still of the
Bermuda type from Northern Texas
and other early shipping points.
Onion acreage in the late shipping
states seems to be near the five
year average, a little below $4,000
acres. Conditions have not been
wholly favorable for the growing
crop and at present the yield seems
likely to be less than last season.
weather and wind
storms have caused some damage.
Northern onions grown from sets
are expected to be in the market in
luantity soon. General price range
If onions continues low.
Celery in half crates from New
Jersey and New York States sold in
New York and Philadelphia markets