Milford chronicle., 1932-01-29

90 The second half of January seem
ed likely to be a resting spell in the
fruit and vegetable markets. Prices
of northern and western produce as
reported to the u S. Bureau of Ag-
ricultural Economics have been
holding fairly well since the middle
of the month, although the tone WITS
rather weak and there were more
losses than gains in the absence of
any active buying for future re-
quirements. Positions Of potatoes,
onions and cabbage were impaired
by the increasing receipts held on
track in large cities. Market sup
plies still were reported moderate
but produce shipments have shown
an increasing tendency the past two
weeks, gaining about one-third COM
pared with the small carlot move
ment early in the month. Prices of
potatoes sagged a little in some
markets and the trend of cabbage
prices continued slightly downward.
Onions were about the only product
showing generally well maintained
values. Warm weather in the South
has brought liberal early supplies of
snap beans, celery, cabbage, greens
and strawberries. They sell at low
prices, increasing the competition
with northern stored produce.
Onion Prices Hold
Mild, open weather prevailing
much of the time this season has
been detrimental to marketing what
fes Nf ho ~
has been reduced and quality of
storage stock impaired by weather
conditions. Many onion holders who
had stock of poor keeping quality
have been obliged to force it hur-
riedly on the market, resulting in
larger holdings on track in tha cit
les, but these emergency shipments
have tended to decrease since the
middle of the month. Prices are
holding nearly unchanged. The only
weakness was at some midwestern
Country shipping points where there
was considerable stock of ordinary
quality on the market. The general
position of onions is supported by
knowledge of the limited supply of
good stock available in storage.
Holdings appear to- be about half
those of a year ago and One-third
less than even the very light guam
titles available in the short crop
season of 1928-29.
The total carlot output of late
crop onions is 5000 cars under that
of last season. The heaviest eastern
holdings are in New York State. !
Steady to strong conditions have |
prevailed in the Rochester shipping |
district since the middle of the |
month. Sales of 50-pound sacks OF |
No 1 yellow onions of good size |
reached $2.15 to $3.50, smaller stock
selling as low as 50. Sales of 100 /
pound sacks held between 81 and
S4.40 but the lower prices were for
onions only fair in quality. Eastern
onions of good keeping quality ap-
peared to be rather closely held.
City markets report supply and de-
mand moderate as a rule, although
New York, Baltimore, and Pitts
burgh report light demand and sup
plies are. heavy. in Biston-, Eastern
yellow onions Since the middis Of
the month have been selling at the
nearly steady range of $2.15 to, $2.25
per so pounds in city markets.
POtaetO Market Slow
The weak feature of the potato
market position this year has been
the limited demand, as shown by
reduced unloads in some of the
large markets and the lighter carlot
despite the somewhat
larger production this season. Not
much buying for future require
ments has taken place and the mar
ket has lacked the stimulation need
ed to bring sharp upward price
trend. Shippers in some sections
show a tendency to sell freely at
every slight advance in the market.
Producers in the important ship
ping section of northern Maine have
been trying to hold the price at
level fixed by the association and !
the result Is a market lever better
sustained than in some other sec
lions. Shippers are reported coop
Grating with the growers Efforts 10 ]
some extent. Demand is limited at
shipping points and growers have !
been paid 65 to 20 cents per barrel I
n bulk. In other parts of the pota- /
o producing region prices have not
1een holding very we'll since the '
middle of January, although de-
,lines are slight. A range of 53 to
70 cents per 10O-pound sack covers i
most dealers sales in producing '
sections from East to West. t
Track holdings in the large mar '
Iets have become rather heavy as $
compared with early in the month,
,ut most markets still report re- L
eipts moderate and demand rather d
low. Light holdings are reported a
t Philadelphia. There is some Can Il
dian stock offered in Boston at S
Drices shade below recent level. &
daine Green Mountains are steady /
t an eastern jobbing range of SOC S
o SIPS per 100 pounds except o
outhern markets, some of which i
uote as high as $15O, New York
found White varieties are fairly "
rominent in Baltimore. Pittsburgh. T.