Evening star., 1931-12-14
TREND OF PRODUCE
PRICES IS MIXED
Slightly Downward Tendency
Noted in Many Farm
Offerings.

larger supplies of potatoes. rising prices
of onions and a steady. slightly down.
ward price trend on most other lines
Of fruits and vegetables, says the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics,
Market News Service. The upward
tendency seen early in the month was
not continued during the second week
and the market relapSed to the dullneSS
often noted between the holiday sea-
sons at this time of year Carlot re-
CcptS of most fruits and vegetables
continue rather light. Many of the
large city markets report the moderate
supplies meeting slow demand
Onions Sell Higher
The onion market is almost the only
example of rising prices in the group
OF Northern stored fruits and vege-
tables, The light production and hold
inGS and the moderate supplies in the
large markets have placed the onion
specially in good position despite the
rather limited demand. Recent sharp
price advances have been strongly
maintained and some further gains
We're reported the second week of De-
cember. New York and Boston reached
l''N'iiN
the week White onions and Spanish
type stock from the West exceeded
that price in some markets. Standard
Eastern yellow stock brought Sl.65 to
50 per so pounds on jobbing sales
Steady to firm conditions were reported
in Eastern and MidWCStern producing
sections and Colorado country markets
strengthened. Gains at many shipping
points throughout the country have
nI n a CT
pound sack. as compared with the low
est of November. Recent sales in
Western New York have ranged be-
tween Sl.l0 and $l85, depending on
size Of stock Onions running so to 80
per cent inches and larger brought
$3.50 to 81 85. Many dealers and
growers were reported holding for
higher prices. 1t is understood that
cents per pound has been paid to grow
erS and that some are dissatisfied with
that price. Current movement is from
common storage, but considerable guam
titles have moved into cold storage
during the past seven days from East
ern and mld-WeStern producing Sec
tons, owing to poor keeping quality
this season in common storage The
fear Of further shrinkage tends to keep
up steady volume of market ship
mentS, which results in rapid reduction
VI L44t dN NdIIdDIe supply.
Cabbage Market Dull.
A Gull. slightly weaker tone prevailed
in the cabbage market after the rising
tendency earlier in the month. There
were losses of 50 to 50 per ton on some
sales in Eastern markets. New York
cabbage Of the long-keeping varieties
brought SIC to S25 on lobbing sales and
ranged 80 cents to Sl15 on l0O-pound
h. NCjc
Sll5 in Philadelphia. Arrivals from
Florida and Texas are in limited guam
tlty and prices are we'll maintained
Conditions IN Eastern producing sections
remain about steady. LOadingS of cab
bage were equal in number to those of
all other produce combined during the
first week of December in the Rochester
district Growers were receiving $40 to
$l2 per ton, but some lots were sold as
low as So range of S13 to Sl4. in
bulk was quoted at shipping points
Heavy arrivals of New York cabbage at
Philadelphia weakened that market as
compared with New York.
Potato Supply Increases.
The brief upswing in potato prices
near the first of the month brought
some increase in carlot shipments and
daily totals approached nearer to move
ment of early December a year ago.
Heavier track holdings were reported
at the principal markets When the
price advance failed to continue. ship
ment5 from producing sections began
to slow down again. Demand in CITY
markets is slow to moderate and prices
fairly steady, the second week in Dec
ember, Maine Green Mountains sell at
IS cents to S1.l0 per 100 pounds in East
efn markets. Long Island stock ad-
Vanced slightly in New York. Round
white varieties from Western New ork
sold at 80 cents to 81 in Baltimore and
Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania and Mary
land stock brought 80 to IS cents in
Baltimore. Chicago market was about
steady on current sales, but tending
slightly upward on sales for March de-
livery Growers in Western New York
are receiving 25 to 80 cents per bushel,
IN bulk. Many shipments from that
territory are being made to Ohio. the
NrglnlaS and the CarolinaS The Long
Island shipping season is nearly over,
with only about one-half the potato
output OF the previous season.
Sweet Potatoes Irregular.
Sweet potatoes show no definite
change in price trend although prices
e2sed off a little on Maryland and Della !
ware stock in Pittsburgh and several
MldWeStern markets the second week
IN December; but strong tone was
indicated at New York and Boston. |
North Carolina Porto Ricans dropped
about 10 cents per bushel in Washing
ton. New Jersey sweets lost 10 cents |
IN some Eastern markets. Virginia |
sweet potatoes, of Jersey type, were
steaoy IN most Eastern markets.
Celery and Carrots.
Price of celery has tended downward |
at New York country shipping points |
since the end of the THANKSGIVING
market. Quantity of good Eastern eel |
cry in storage seems to be light. al |
though total holdings in cold storage |
in Western New York are reported |
about 100000 crates, equal to 1900 |
carloads. This quantity including. of |
course. much loWgrade stock. is larger |
than at corresponding time last season, |
Recent transactions at shipping points |
ranged Sl.75 to $225 per two-thirds |
crate. but some poorer stock sold con-
siderably lower. Prices of Eastern and |
Western celery are fairly steady in city |
markets California shipments are
rather heavy. despite reports of serious
damage to the crop.
Activity Is increasing in Eastern car
reproducing sections Sales at Western
ern New York shipping points ad-
vanced to top of 81 per 100 pounds |
the second week of December. The
crop is comparatively light and local
dealers talk of an early shortage in
storage holdings. Prices of New York
carrots are reported about steady in
New York at 80 cents to S1l5 per
100 pounds. Michigan stock brought !
81 in Pittsburgh
Apple Markets Steady.
Prices of apples have shown little |
change In most markets. so far this |
month. The trend on some varieties |!
has been slightly upward since the |
end of the picking season. but the ad-
vance has been irregular and no great |