Milford chronicle., 1932-01-22
Produce Market Notes

Shipments of fruits and vege-
tables are beginning to increase
again after the dullness usual
around the first of the year, but
daily receipts according TO reports
by the U. S. Bureau of Agricultural
Economics are still only about 1000
carloads and the seasons output so
far is less than it was a year ago
by about 1/6. Business depression
continues to affect both volume and
prices. The general list compares
unfavOrably with market values as
quoted a year ago except on onions,
cabbage and lettuce and even these
special lines which have been in
tiuenced by crop shortage or delay
are not all showing the market
strength noted earlier in the month.
Mid-January found prices irregular
but holding we'll on potatoes and
onions. Lettuce shipments are i'll
creasing and prices weakening.
Cabbage tends lower because of ir-
regular quality of old stock and the
increase. of southern shipments.
Other lines of produce show no Cis-
tinct change in trend.
Recent liberal supplies of low
priced strawberries from Florida
were the result of warm weather
which hastened the crop in that
section. Strawberries are likely to
be abundant the coming season so
far as acreage is concerned, al
though the increase of 1870 COM
pared with last year does not bring
the total up to the large area plant
ed to the crop several years ago, but
in the late-shipping northern and
western States the bearing acreage
is considerably larger than for
many years past.
Onion Prices Hold
Action on the onion market has
been an interesting feature because
of the long continued strength in
contrast with frequent price declin
es in many other directions. Since
the first of the month, city markets
and the producing sections have re-
ported numerous gains and prices
have doubled since October. Rather
heavy shipments towards the middle
of this month have limited demand
at shipping points but holders re-
port 10 price decline and tie teEd-
ency still appears upward. Average
at shipping stations East and West
is somewhat above 81 per so
pounds for the yellow varieties and |
variations from that leye: are main |
ly according TO size AMI condition. !
IN some districts prese Il shipments |
represent ClGers booked ahead and |
the fulfihment of January deliver? |
contracts. NCch of the current sup |
ply incluCos many undersize1 or
ions.
Like most lines of storage hold |
ings this year, onions are showing |
early maturity and considerable
shrinkage. The largest sizes grown |
from best seed are reported keeping
with only normal shrinkage and !
such stock no doubt is being held in
considerable quantities for the fur
ther price advances which some
holders are confidently expecting
during closing months of the sea-
son. Trade estimates on which such |
opinions are based indicate holdings |
available for shipment not very
much more than half those Of a
year ago The tCtal carlot output of
onions from the late crop this sea-
son is 5000 cars under that of last
TO date.
The early southern crop which
reaches northern markets in the
spring has been literally planted I
this year but a considerable part OF
the Texas crop is likely to be late
on account of weather conditions.
Imports as yet have not amount TO
serious competition. In fact, re-
ceipts from foreign countries at
times have been exceeded by ship
ments of domestic onions to mar
kets in Latin America and the Phil
ippines.
Prices of onions at New York and
Philadelphia, the middle of January,
were still advancing slowly. Nearly
all leading markets report moderate
and slow demand but stea-
dy or stronger price conditions.
Track holdings in the large cities
have shown a tendency to increase
so far this month. and shipments
are fairly liberal from New York
State and the Middle West, but light
from other sections. Boston report
ed heavy supplies and prices 5-1Oc
lower. Baltimore market also
weakened. White onions show an
advancing trend and the same is
rue of Spanish onions in some mar
1ets.
Potatoes Fairly Steady
Prices of potatoes at eastern ship
ling points were holding fairly well {
lear the middle of January. re- !
aiming part of the small gains re-
ported early in the month. The ;
weak feature was a tendency to in
.reased shipments from most pro-
lucing sections, tending TO correct {
he comparative short holdings on
rack at city markets. Demand is I
aiFly good at shipping points. {
PRICES hold around 75c per 100 s
lounds for sacked stock in western {
lew York. This package has been /
lore prominent this season than {
he 150-pound sack Prices to grow |
rs are around 25-30c bulk per d
ushel, but recently the 30c-fgurc G
as been more in evidence. The i
continue to receive e
8irly wide distribution. Midwest Il
hipping points report quiet. fairly b
teady conditions. Maine shippers j.
ave been able to hold the recent h
f1,sanpof Of n bntf 1Oc ,,,d s,.Io.. b,-., Z,