Milford chronicle., 1931-12-11

With countrywide produce ship
ments down to about 1000 cars day
for some weeks past, the vegetable
market began to show signs of un-
der-supply around the first of De-
cember. Prices turned generally up
ward for the first time in months,
Several products showing light to
medium production and shipments,
including potatoes, onions, cabbage,
carrots, celery and lettuce, advanced
in many markets. Other leading
vegetable lines at least held their
position fairly well, although after
the holiday trade had been supplied
there was the usual let-up in whole
sale buying, Fruits did not share
the rising trend of the general pro-
duce market because supplies of ap-
pies on hand continued liberal de-
spite the rather light carlOt ship
ments as compared with the large
production.
Rising Potato Markets
The potato markets seemed inclin-
ed to reflect the rather strong posi-
tion of this product around the first
of the month. Shipments have been
at the rate of only about 400 cars a
day for a long time and track hold
ings in nearly all the large cities are
moderate. Consuming requirements
tend to increase wit hcOlder weather
and demand for low-price vegetables
of this staple kind might be expected
to be good, even in times of business
depression. Price advances thus FAR
have been small, amounting to to
10 cents per 100 pounds during No
Vember and some further gains thus
for in December but the
stronger conditions did not apply to
all markets. A few of the eastern
and midwestern potato shipping
points weakened slightly but others
gained the first week of December,
but far western shipping points re-
ported rather strong price condi-
tions. Prices at shipping stations in
Maine and New York have been
holding fairly well the small ad-
vances made near the end OF No
vember. Growers in western New
York, according to recent reports,
were receiving 25 to 80 cents per
bushel in bulk for U. S. No. l stock.
Local dealers got 20 to rs cents per
100 pounds for sacked stock and
eastern markets quoted 9O-cents to /
81 on this stock. Pennsylvania /
round whites are steady at SO-cents
to 81. The Chicago carlOt market |
recorded slight gains. The slightly
upward trend of prices on sales for !
January and March delivery lndl- |
Gates a more confident viewpoint on /
the part of dealers. New potatoes !
from Florida entered the market at |
prices lower than usual at the time |
of year, selling at $5 to $3.50 per bar
rel in jobbing trade. About so cars
of seed stock from Maine were ship
ned to Florida points late in Novem-
ber. Shipments to Virginia and the
Carolinas have been extremely light.
Most seed buyers were reported
holding off in hope of buying at low
er prices.
Sweet Potatoes
Shipments of sweet potatoes con-
tinue moderate and most of the city
markets report only limited supplies
on hand. Demand is light and prices
show only slight gains from the low
levels prevailing this season. There
was an encouraging upward tendency
in some markets on Delaware, Mary
land and Virginia stock of the Jer-
sey type, early this month, while
prices of Tennessee Nancy Halls
scarcely held their own. Virginia
barreled stock ranged 81 to 81 in
eastern markets. New Jersey pack
in bushel hampers ranged $1.1O to
s1.25. Chicago market advanced
about 25-cents on Maryland and Jer-
sey bushel stock. North Carolina
sweets were firm in northern mar
kets.
cabbage and Onions Higher
The gradual gains made in cab !