Milford chronicle., 1931-01-09
WEEKLY PRODUCE
MARKET NOTES


The most important feature of tn,
produce markets near the first o
the year was the countrywide up
ward tendency of potato prices. Th'
gains were not large, but the pre-
valance of the upward trend in pro
ducing sections from Maine to Ida
no suggested that the long perioC
of moderate carlot shipments was
beginning to take effect on the mar
ket position. 1t is too soon to say
that the strength of the potato mar
l1et is q response to general under
lying conditions, but the fact is
that with production about the same
prices have been much lower than
they were q year ago, leaving con-
siderable room for price advance ac-
cording to available supply.
Nearly all potato markets report
supplies moderate or light, and de-
mand fairly good. Many price gains
of S to 1Oc per 100 pounds occurred
the last week of December. Maine
Green Mountains have been selling
at $1.80 to $210 per 100 pounds in
eastern markets. Long Island
stock reached $3.50 in Washington;
and western New York stock sold
as high as S2.35 in Atlanta, but was
generally under 50. The Chicago
market advanced further around
January l, with sales of mid-Wes-
tern potatoes at $3.50 to $40 a car
lot. Prices held firmly in northern
Maine, and recent advances were
we'll sustained in western New York
and the upper Great Lakes region.
Firm markets prevailed in the ship
ping sections of the Rocky Mountain
States. Growers appeared to be ex-
pecting some further Improvement
in potato market conditions after the
first of the year, although most of
them were not looking for any large
or rapid rise.
Sweet Potatoes Higher
Sweet potatoes, as well as the
white kind, were selling higher near
the end of the year, although Ten
nessee Nancy Halls did not advance
with the rest, owing perhaps to the
heavy supply comprising about one
fourth of the daily carlot shipments.
Delaware and Maryland sweets fol-
lowed a price range of $3.50 to SLID
per bushel in late December in cas-
tern markets. Supplies were mod
crate in most markets, but rather
light in Boston, Baltimore and Kan
sas City. Demand continued fairly |
good everywhere. North and South
Carolina Porto Ricans sold at 81 to |
$3.50. New Jersey stock brought |
$1.75 to $275. CarlOt shipments
tended to decrease, amounting now
to less than so cars daily.
Onions Tend Lower
The general tendency of the on
ion market was slightly downward
around the years end, owing mainly
to slight declines at some western
shipping points. Prices have been
holding steady in eastern producing
sections at SOC per 100 pounds. Eas-
tern onions sold about unchanged in
the large city markets, although
mid-Western onions showed a
slightly downward slant. The gem
eral run of eastern yellow onions
brought 81 to $1.20 per 100 pounds.
Spanish type onions from the far
West ranged $1.25 to $1.75 in cas-
tern markets. Market supplies con-
tinue moderate, and demand rather
slow.
About one-fourth of the cabbage
supply is from the South at pres
ent, but markets are controlled
mainly by supplies of stored cab
bage from western New York and
Wisconsin. Northern cabbage is in !
moderate supply in city markets,
bnt demand like that for most
other vegetables is reported rather !
Prices have not
changed much around the first of
the year, although producers in Wis /
consin were receiving about 81
more per ton. There was steady
in New York shipping
sections, and a steady range OF
prices in the large eastern markets
at 500 to $25 for bulk cabbage by
the ton. A few lots of red cabbage
sold as high as $50 in New York,
but demand was extremely limited.
Prices are we'll maintained on south
ern cabbage, because of let-up in
the shipments.
Prices of celery tended upward
near the end of the year, and de-
mand was reported good at western
New York shipping points. Sales in
eastern markets followed range of
$3.50 to 1925 for best stock. Some
rather ordinary lots of eastern cell
cry sold as low as $1.75 per crate
m Philadelphia. New celery from
Florida was offered around $375
crate in a few northern cities.
Prices of California celery are un-
changed
Apple Shipments Light
Eastern country markets on
Rhode Island Greening apples was
trong late in December, with sales
1t $1.35 per bushel, while Baldwins
brought $1.4O to $1.50. Carlot ship
nents are now less than 200 daily,
bout two-thirds of them from the
Northwest.
Shipments of truck crops from
outhern Florida have been rather
light near the end of the year. The
leavy rainfall and the holidays
we're mainly responsible for the re-
uced activity. AS a result of the
ainfall, the quality of the tomatoes
oming from early shipping sections
uring the first part of January may
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