Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-13
FARM SHIPMENTS
REPORTED LARGER
Output to Same Date Nearly
100000 Cars Greater Than
for Last Season.


States Department of Agriculture, Blu
reau of Agricultural Economics. Market
News Service. Shipments Of green
produce have been arriving in some
what larger quantities than last sea-
son, and recent daily carlot totals have
averaged 5000 Seasons combined out
put is nearly 10000 cars larger than for
the season before to the same date.
Prices are somewhat lower than they
were a yea1 ago. During the second
week of June, gains and losses were
fairly we'll balanced in the fruit and
vegetable markets. The recent down.
ward tendency was relieved by price
recoveries on potatoes and cabbage. but
strawberries declined to lower levels
What is left from the old crops has
been holding prices well, especially pota-
toes and apples. Best varieties Of old
potatoes were selling as high in some
markets as the Southern new crop and
apples have been holding close TO the
best prices Of the season.
Berry Supplies Moderate.
Strawberry receipts continue moderate
TO heavy in Eastern markets, but de-
mand is Slow and prices no longer make
the favorable showing afforded to the
growers earlier in the year. The ship
ping season is starting in the Northern
States along a line from New Jersey
westward. Eastern Shore berries will
not be very active in the markets after
the middle of the month, although the
Northern Shore districts will continue
shipping until about June 20. Shore
berries are prominent in Eastern mar
kets now. They made up about half
the countrywide rail and truck ship
ments the second week of June, al
though the Shore crop was not so heavy
as that Of last season, owing to contin-
ued effect of the late 1880 dry weather
on condition OF plants.
Prices in producing sections were
surprisingly close to the city market
level some Of the time. Growers have
been doing well, but some dealers are
reported making little more than oper-
ating expenses because OF close COM
petition for desirable supplies. The
range varied widely from 81 SO to 81
per 32-quart crate, but there was quite
sharp decline the second week Of
June, owing partly to poor condition
and quality, and not many lots sold
above So crate, even for the fine,
large late varieties like Candy. East
ern markets quoted Shore and other
Eastern fruit at TO Is cents per quart
basis. A common range of quotations
on the large markets was 8 to IL cents.
New Jersey sold at 10 TO IS cents
Western markets showed a similar
range OF prices. with declining tendency
the second week Of June.
Other fruit supplies include oranges
and apples. Florida oranges bring So
TO $3.50 per box for best stock. Apples
hold recent prices at $l.75 10 s225 4
bushel for best standard Eastern y&ri-
cites. Such kinds as Ben Davis and
Starks bring $3.50 to $1.75.
Fruit crop prospects continue fairly
good, especially for apples and peaches.
The June report confirms the impress
sion of heavy production this season
for the barreled apple region in the
Eastern and Midwestern shipping States.
An especially heavy output is indicated
for the Southern and Central States
Oranges and grapefruit hardly promise
as well as they did during the first OF
the season, owing to the heavy drop in
May Old crop citrus fruits are being
shipped literally for so late in the sea-
son and total output well above 10000
cars has exceeded the apple shipments
from all sources by several thousand
carloads. The pear crop promises to
be a little better than the long-term
average. with favorable conditions for
a large commercial supply from the
South and Far West.
Potato Supply Liberal.
Potato shipments vary widely from
day to day but recent weekly averages
have been exceeding those Of last sea-
son. The prevailing rate of output is
about 1000 cars daily. The old crop
sections Is not very active in June, but
a considerable supply is arriving from
Idaho and Maine. The limited guam
hoe ~ - frn "a
price little, although the general level
is not far from the seasons lowest.
Maine potatoes brought SIPS to SITS
i'll Eastern markets the first half of
June. The Chicago potato trade appar-
emily considers that the selling price
of standard potatoes in October will
be somewhat below 81 per 100 pounds,
judging from recent quotations on the
potato exchange.
Meanwhile, the principal supply IS
coming from the Southern States.
Heavy shipments will soon arrive from
the Eastern Shore of Maryland and
Virginia. Small shipments from that
section have already reached the mar
ket. Shippers estimate a considera BILE
number of CARROTS for the second week
Of June. Growers are not anxious to
dig so long as North Carolina potatoes
are selling at 50 a barrel in producing
ing section. The two sections overlap
somewhat in the market this season.
Weather conditions have been favorable
for the Eastern Shore crop and the
output is expected to equal that of last
season despite a slight decrease in
acreage. The damage from blight APP
pears to be much more serious than
was at first expected.
The large Eastern markets report
receipts OF new potatoes light to mod
crate, but demand is only fairly good
Prices are irregular the second week of
June, with gains of SO cents to 81 per
barrel in New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore, but little change in
Pittsburgh and weak tone in Wash
ington and in several important West
ern cities. North Carolina Cobblers
have been selling in Northern markets
at 1925 to SO a barrel, compared with
around 81 at country shipping points
Southern red varieties still sell around
81 per 100 pounds in producing sections.
but tone has been little stronger near
the middle of the month. Crop reports
show better than average condition in
10 early potato States, also in the inter
mediate potato region. The market
supply seems likely to be longer than
was indicated by the rather small gain
in acreage. Prospective yield per acre
DSAlS SOou' PlOduCtlOll III 10 Sdlly allN
intermediate States is reCkoned over
48 600 900 bushels, or a IS per cent in
crease over last year.
A few sales of sweet potatoes are re-
ported. but the season is nearly over.
Tennessee Nancy Halls have been SELL
ing in Eastern cities at SIPS to So per
buShel.
Spinach from Pennsylvania, New York
and New Jersey brings around so cents
per bushel in New York, but prices
went as low as Is to 80 cents in Phila-
delphia the second week of June.
Cabbage Prices Recover.
Southern cabbage was selling little
better in Northern markets toward the
middle of June, owing to rather light
carlot supplies but the demand con-
tinued slow and markets lacked vigor,