Milford chronicle., 1931-05-22
WEEKLY PRODUCE
MARKET NOTES

NOftnern IfulJS anu VHSeldUleS SUN
on hand, but the heavy shipments
of Southern potatoes, oranges and
green stuff severely tests the pres
ent limited buying power of North
erR markets. The total carlot move
ment of fruits and vegetables was
about One-fOurth greater than for
corresponding time last season.
Price trends showed the downward
tendency usual for the time of year.
Northern produce made a fairly
good showing. Potato prices sagged
off few cents in some markets, but
the scanty offerings of first quality
old onions brought high prices, and
standard Eastern apples sold at top
level of the season.
Supplies of Southern produce are
likely to continue heavy because of
some gains in acreage and the gen.
orally good condition of crops in
most producing sections. Strawber-
ry shipments the middle of May are
about the same in volume as last
year, owing to good crops in Louis
lana, North Carolina and Alabama,
and prices, unlike those of most
products, are about the same as
those of a year ago. Orange ship
ments are so per cent ahead of last
seasons carlot figures and already
exceed last seasons total. Aspara-
gus output so far is so per cent
greater than in 1880 and shipments
continue active from South Carolina
as the season moves nOrthward. A
few watermelOns are on the market
from the West Indies but the domes-
tic season is likely to be two weeks
late and Florida shipments will
hardly start until the second week
in June. Melon acreage is less this
year but is larger than for any
other recent season.
Potato Market Weak
Northern potatoes still comprise
more than half the market supply
but shipments from half-a-dOzen
Southern States are increasing the
competition and prices weakened
lsIightly near the middle of May, with
declines of to 10 cents per 100
pounds in various Eastern markets.
Most of the large cities reported
Supplies moderate and demand for
old stock limited. Maine potatoes
sold mostly from $1.75 to So per 100
mounds with top of $2.20 in Wash
ington. New York round white po-
4atoes were steady at $l.75 tO.$l.S0
9n Baltimore. Canadian potatoes
dropped 10 cents in New York. PO-
tatO holdings are reported light in
western New York producing sec
hons and most of the dealers have
closed their loading stations for the
season. Probably not more than so
cars of potatoes will move from that
SECTION during the rest of the sea-
son. A few carloads are still going
out from the Adirondacks section of
the State. Total potato shipments
from upper New York exceeded A.
600 cars-nearly equal to last sea-
sons movement. Prices in Middle
Western producing sections range |
from 81 to $125. In northern Maine. |
demand is slow and market duh and |
weak, with sacked stock at $l.20 to
SIPS.
Production estimates for early |
potato shipping States up to as far
north as the CarOlinas indicate |
about One-fifth increase in prOduc-
tion, the gain being due partly to
Weld but mainly to larger acreage. |
Total early crop acreage is largest
in recent years, except 1928, al |
though there is a per cent reduc-
tfon in Virginia and small cut in
Maryland acreage. Conditions in
Southern producing sections are
better than average, except some |
damage in Texas and Okla
homa. Old onions sell high. About !
10 carloads of old onions are still
shipped daily and only a few of
these are of quality good enough at
this time of year to bring top |
prices. The best of them were sell
ing around the middle of May at
81 so to $l.75 per 100 pounds in New
York in contrast with about 81 in
early spring, but ordinary stock still
only 81 to SIPS. Many of
he southern onions arriving in lib
eral quantities are of only fair quail
ty- and prices still tend downward
N most markets, with general range
IF 81 to $3.50 per crate for yellow
ilOCh VI LllC ~ pc
Old carrots, unlike old onions,
laves not made any late-season re-
,every. Demand has been extreme
Y light for some months. Growers
md dealers in Eastern producing
sections are doing all they can to
iispose of their remaining stock,
some of the carrots are being fed
o farm animals. Shipments of sweet
potatoes still amount to about 100
.ars a week. They are mostly from
forage in Louisiana, North Carolina
md Tennessee.
r.. Green Stuff Plentiful
Asparagus shipments are SO per
ent heavier so far this season.
lrices have been tending steadily
.ownward Heaviest supplies are
rom South Carolina at present.
Spinach shipments amount to
bout 95 cars daily, mainly from
iarylad and Virginia, besides sew !
raj carloads of other greens from
hese two States. Most price changes
tere downward near the middle Of
lie month with various declines !
mounting to S to 10 cents a bushel.
bme stock was of low grade and
old down to 25 cents bushel in {
lew York, Philadelphia and Wash ]
igton, but general range of Virgin i
L Savoy type was 25 to rs cents. (
Iaryland spinach brought go to S5 c
ents in Pittsburgh and Chicago.
oith Carolina peas tended lower in
orthern markets, at 81 to $3.50 per !
nshel. c