White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-03-17
February Apple
Sales Largest
In History
REPORT HOWEVER SHOWS sTOR-
AGE HOLDINGS IN COUNTRY
ARE STILL LARGE

Although the apple sales in the
country in February are reported to
have been the largest for any one
month in the history of the industry,
the amount of stock in storage is still
large and the sales rate established in
February must be maintained for an
other sixty days if the entire crop goes
into consumption In an effort to slim
ulate the market for Winesaps the
Washington Boxed Apple Bureau has
designated March 26 to April 2 as
Washington Winesaps week 1t is hoped
that this effort will be as successful
as the one promoted last fall for JON
athanS.
A comprehensive idea of the condi-
ton of the apple deal at this time is
revealed in communication received
this week by l. G. HaWley from B. A.
Perham of the Perham Fruit Com
pany. Mr.. Perham is one of the largest
dealers in the Yakima valley and his
contacts are such that he is able to
get dependable information. The fol-
lowing quotations are from his letter:
1--WE received today the wire report
from the International Apple Associ
alton. Of course, this does not go
much into detail, but the storage hold
ings of March /, 1882, show 747,513
barrels, 9,791,9 1868 boxes and 6,428643
bushel baskets. All of this converted
into barrels would make total of
6,154,380 barrels. Last year at this time
there were stated in barrels 5,675 043
Therefore, you will note that there is
stated in barrels approximately $780,
900 more than year ago.
"The decrease in holdings for the
in barrels, which was the largest de-
crease of any record we have, and we
have the records since 1917. The near
est to that was in the spring of 1890
for the month of February which
showed decrease of 2,876,295 stated
in barrels; and in 1924 fos tire .e1onth
of February which showed decrease
of 1885, 661 stated in barrels
"The consumption of apples during
the months of December, January,
and February was the greatest in the
history of the business On the other
hand we have the greatest quantity
stated in barrels still left on hand on
March LIST on record, except in 1924
when there we're on hand stated in
barrels 7,07064 and on March LIST,
1926, there were 6,239,384 stated in
barrels
Several things have developed in
this apple deal this year One is that
perhaps it is the greatest crop ever
produced in the world; and second, the
consumption is probably the greatest
ever known We certainly could not
expect any greater consumption dur
ing the months of December January
and February than we have had, even
with these extremely low prices; yet
we are not out of the woods by any
means. However, with the amount of
weak baskets and barrels, the amount
of common storage still available, the
amount of Romes, Staymens, and De-
licious in the box section which it
looks like must be moved during March
plus probably reasonable number OF
cold storage Winesaps during March,
we might keep pace pretty we'll and
see better finish; but cannot see
anything for the improvement Of prices
at least for the next month. We must
keep apples moving. Waste may be a
big factor. That Is, of course, very
unknown quantity. Weather is big
factor. People eat apples in cold wea-
ther; If the weather is warm In the
markets they will eat spring vegetables
and spring fruits. We do not know
what this cold wave in the southern
section of the country has done to
early spring vegetables and spring
fruits. There is a big quantity of Or
anges, also grapefruit yet to go; SC
all I can say is that it is still horse
race. But it could be worse"