Evening star., 1932-04-03
PRODUCE MARKETS
SOMEWHAT LOWER
Price Level Shows Only
Slight Decline in Latter
Part of March.

The produce markets during the las
10 days of March lost part of the sharn
general advance made earlier in the
month, but the price level is still some
Wnat higher than before the freeze
says the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, Bureau Of Agricultural Econom-
les, Market News Service The spell of
colder weather had helped to reduce
supplies on hand Carlot Shipments
nave not yet returned to recent volume
and new supplies of many products
were expected to remain moderate for
some time because of crop delay and
damage. There is only a light carlot
movement of string beans, strawberries
ana Southern produce of most kinds
except tomatoes, which are coming lib
orally from Southern Florida and from
Mexico.
Northern onions and cabbage are in
very light supply, but selling below re-
cent top prices. Potato shipments are
Ialrly large; that is, about as usual for
tne time OF year, and not far below
1000 cars daily, and the price has
sagged away from the high points of
the rise, but is showing some resistance
to further declines because of holders
present expectations of a rather long
market season with possibly favorable
oeVelopmentS in market way. Apple
markets have been showing strength
throughout the past month, and most
varieties are holding at the higher
price level reached.
Potato Market Hesitates.
The most generally interesting fea-
ture IS the potato market, which con-
Germs numerous growers North and
South. Remaining holdings in storage
are probably ample for market needs,
even if an important proportion of the
Southern crop is lost but the prob
ability of a sustained active demand
for the Northern product has been in
creased by recent developments. Maine.
Idaho, and the upper Great Lakes
region are principal sources of supply
during the last two months of the ac-
tive season. At present these sections
are shipping much more than half of
the combined supply. Prices have
sagged away considerably from the top
level reached after the freeze, but have
been holding well lately, and the tone
strengthened q little, especially in the
East, near the first of the month. The
price level is within a narrow range from
Maine to Idaho, mostly between go to
70 cents per 100 pounds for sacked
stock of the round white varieties.
Prices are firm in the East but dull
and steady in the Middle West and
Rocky Mountain region. Haulings are
still light in most producing sections on
account of the condition of the roads
but daily shipments from all sections
average around 900 carloads per week
day owing to liberal stocks in dealers
storage. The expected shortage of
;,,lxv
show in the shipments, which have
been much larger so far this season
from Florida and Texas. owing to the
earliness on the part Of the crop, which
matured before the freezing weather.
Maine growers and shippers who
owned potatoes stored in the trackSide
warehouses have been somewhat re-
luctant to sell as prevailing prices and
since the roads have been blocked only
moderate supplies have been available.
Some shippers expect the market to
show stronger action during the last
part of the season, when supplies in
other sections have been cleaned up.
They point to the smaller Southern
crop and its delayed maturity and also
to rumors that potatoes in some OF the
Western States must be shipped soon
because of keeping conditions. Maine
stocks on hand are probably consid-
erably heavier than they were year
ago. Shipments from the State are
about 1000 cars behind those OF last
season to date. If total shipments are
to equal those of last season. which
many shippers consider improbable
under present market conditions, It
would be necessary for the movement
from now until June to average about
800 cars daily, compared with recent
averages not much above 200 cars.
Prices in Northern Maine around the
first of the month range SIS to 60 cents
per 100 pounds at shipping points.
HaulingS in Western New York were
hindered by heavy snowfall and prices
were holding fairly well around 10
cents, compared with level about 10
cents higher at the height of the rise.
Growers were receiving mostly Is to
80 cents per bushel in bulk.
The large Eastern markets report
moderate supplies and slow to fairly
active demand. Receipts in Boston
were limited and market rather firm.
the tone near the first of the
month was a little weaker, although
price changes were small Maine stock
for jobbing sales brought 81 to Sl25
per 100 pounds, with top of $l.35 il
Washington. New York round whites
sold around 81 in Eastern markets, and
Pennsylvania stock ranged IS cents 20
81 in Baltimore and New York. Chi
cago market Is literally supplied and
prices have held about steady Sales
FOR later delivery range 10 cents or
more above tho current level.
Prices ef Swnast rsofatnex Are holfYinp