Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-14
FRUIT SHIPMENTS
SHOWING. DECLINE.
Autumn Decrease Noted Also
In Movement of Vegetables
+ to Market.

5000 cars weekly. says the United
States Department of Agriculture, Blu
reau of Agricultural Economics, Market
News Service. Total is still consider
ably below that of the corresponding
time last season. The comparative
onions, and many other leading prod
uctS. Low prices and long, mild har-
vest season have caused some delay in
shipments.
Price changes in the wholesale mar
kets and producing sections during the
second week of November were mod
crate. Previous slight advances on po-
tatoes and apples in some districts
were well maintained, but the potato
and onion positions were rather, I'M
settled. There was firm tone in
Eastern cabbage markets and irregular
or fairly steady conditions in most other
lines.
Apple Trade Dull,
Carlot movement of apples from pro-
ducing sections is decreasing and trade
is dull at most country shipping points.
The slight improvement noted in some
Eastern apple markets was maintained
the second week of November. Many
standard varieties are selling at, 10
cents to SllO per bushel for the better
grades in producing regions of the East
and South. as well as in the North
Central region. Baldwins are firm at
IS to 90 cents per bushel in Western
New York and Western Michigan.
Staymans bring IS cents in the Shen-
andoah Valley and other varieties. 20
to 90 cents. The slightly higher levels
reached earlier in the month are well
maintained but demand is light.
Greetings sell as high as $1.25 to $1.35
in Western New York. Considerable
fruit is being shipped to cider plants
and trucking movement is still active
from orchard to cold storage.
Liberal shipments to foreign markets
have improved the apple position. Al
ready, shipments equal to the seasons
increase Of some 8 per cent in the COM
mercial crop, have been shipped out OF
the country. The market crop was
estimated about IL per cent above the
five-year average. The increase OF over
soc, 900 barrels expected this season
from the United States and Canada Is
In fruit from the barrel apple region
and the increase in production also
has been chiefly in apples from that
part of the country. With standard
varieties, such as the York, selling
around 50 a barrel in the southeastern
apple region and averaging near 81 in
British markets, the foreign outlet is
being maintained. The main apple
surplus is the Virginia-West Virginia
Maryland region, which at present is
supplying about one-third the total
current apple shipments in CARROTS.
Not much change is reported from
the large city apple markets, although
general level continues slightly above
the lowest of last month. Eastern Stay
mans bring 65 cents to 81 per bushel in
Eastern cities Yorks sold little low
er in New York at IS to IS cents.
Baldwins brought rs cents to 81 in
several large markets. Barrel pack
Greening, Mcintosh and Spy range
$3.50 to $3.50 for best lots.
Other Fruits Decreasing.
Supplies Of fruits other than apples
are decreasing in the wholesale markets.
sales of Eastern grapes in a few mar
kets range IS cents to 35 cents per H.
quart basket. Grapefruit is liberal
crop this year and prices rather low at
q jobbing range of 81 to S2.75 per box
In Eastern markets. Florida oranges
sell at $3.50 to $3.75 in Baltimore and
Boston. Owing to the lateness of the
Florida crop the market movement Is
considerably below that Of last year.
The Florida crop is below that OF last
season, but much greater than average
of the past five seasons. Cranberrtes
cause of the liberal production in New
England. Cape Cod berries are selling
on a wholesale basis Of only 4 cents to
cents q pound in many OF the large
markets, ranging 81 to $3.50 per rs
pound box.
Potato Prices Hold.
Prices Of potatoes have been holding
cutie well at a level SC to 10c per 100
bounds above the lowest of October
Although the potato crop is only about
average and prices are unusually low
compared with most other seasons, The
market failed to show much response
to the rapid rise in wheat and some
other commodities.
The market conditions in Western
New York were regarded as a little
more encouraging the second week in
November. Dealers reported better in
Quiry and sustained demand, so that
small price advances could be put IN
effect. These gains amounted to about
&c per 100 pounds. Growers were ;-e6-
ting little more. most of them soc
per bushel in bulk. There Is still much
stock in farm storage and some OF 1t
will need to be moved soon. Pitts
burgh has been active as market Tor
New York potatoes this season and
showed some signs of oversupply. re-
sulting in slight weakness in prices.
Washington also declined about 10c on
this stock. Other markets were nearly
steady. Maine Green Mountains fol-
lowed a jobbing range of CSC to $l.l5
In the larger markets, advancing sc to
l0c in Baltimore and in several mid
western cities. New Jersey Cobblers
sold above 81 so in Atlanta. Pennsyl-
vania Round Whites sold at Toe TO 9Oc
In most markets. Conditions show a
little Improvement in Northern Maine,
altough shipments have been light. In
fact, total potato shipments from all
sections combined have been gradually
decreasing, owing mainly to unwilling
ness of holders to accept current low
prices. Prefailing price paid to grow
ers in Northern Maine is soc per bar
rel in bulk.
Sweet potatoes continue to sell at low
prices without any sign of improve
ment. Maryland and Delaware stock
brings 40 to go cents per bushel. Bar
rel pack from the Eastern Shore sells
in Eastern markets at 81 to $3.50. Hold
tngs are light and demand slow at ship
ping points, at a price range of rs to
IS cents per barrel.
Celery Holdings Reduced.
The holdings Of over half a million
crates of celery in Western New York
are being reduced rather slowly by mar
ket shipments. Sales out of storage
range $3.50 to SETS per two-thirds
crate in producing districts. Dealer:
report that there is much rather ordi-
nary stock in storage. California eel
cry is beginning to compete more ac-
lively, but not much stock is being
shipped from Michigan this season
Florida celery will be active in January
but most of the Northern crop is usual
~ out of the way by that time. Price:
in most Eastern markets ranged from
50 to $2.75 per two-thirdS crate the
second week of November, but reached
tops above SO in Washington and At.
1anta. Market supplies are reported
moderate IN the large cities and de-
mand slow.