Evening star., 1932-01-30

The rather weak trend of the produce
market near the end of January was
not preceded by any large increase Of
supplies, says the Bureau Of Agricultural
Economics, United States Department
of Agriculture, Market News Service.
Carlot shipments were much the same
as in recent weeks or year agO. Low
prices, as compared with last season,
correspond with receipts about as usual,
but with light to moderate demand in
the city markets. Potatoes, sweet pota-
toes and cabbage showed some further
price declines. Onions are still holding
J recent gains and seem to be in strong
market position. Apples sell at irregu-
lar prices, which vary mainly according
to condition and varieties. The good
growing conditions in the South have
| favored the warm weather crops and
provided shipments liberal for so early
! in the season. Low market quality in
some oranges, celery and lettuce has
! hurt the market for these lines.
Potato Markets Sag.
| 1nP DrlCe CIldilBGS III JlIt pOCaLO lIlelA
ket near the beginning of February
were slight. but they continued the
slowly downward trend of the past few
weeks The advances early in the
month brought larger supplies. Trade
| is dull in the city market and a part
| of the early January shipments are still
on hand. as shown by track holdings
Of l 900 carloads in II leading markets.
| Recent arrivals are moderate in most
| of the large markets, but rather light
! in Boston and Baltimore. Demand IS
generally slow Jobbing prices Of Maine
| Green Mountains were nearly steady
| during the last week CT January at a
! range of go cents to Sll5 per lGO
| pounds in six leading Eastern markets.
Long Island and Canadian stock sold
! at steady prices. New York and Penn
| svlvania Round Whites weakened to go
| cents in Baltimore. but were steady else
where. Chicago sales of Green Noun
| tains for March delivery were firm at
at little below 81. In producing sections
demand was slow and haulingS moderate
| to light. There were a few small de-
| clineS, but general position was fairly
| steady Dealers in Western New YORK
were generally unwilling TO pay more
| than IS cents per bushel to growers.
| Prices are equally unsatisfactory to
producers in Northern Maine, resulting
! in rather light shipments from both
! sections. New York potatoes are OBJ
! tanning rather wide distribution, but
| the market territory for Maine stock Is
| somewhat limited by the seasons IN
! creased competition with Western stock
and by the limited demand from the
! South. Unsold stocks in Northern
| Maine are reported much heavier than
year ago. Some shippers have only
/ recently started moving potatoes from
| their own storage houses and there are
dealers who have shipped very few po-
! tatoes yet. There is considerable in
| terest in the coming official reports OF
countrywide potato stocks on hand.
! Range of potato prices, based on sales
| by dealers at leading shipping points, Is
| from As cents per 100 pounds in Maine
to so to 65 cents in the Middle West
and about IS cents in Western New
| York
| Sweet potatoes are moving to mar
| ket at a steady volume Of little less
| than so cars daily from all sources
| Supplies are rather light in Boston,
but liberal to moderate elsewhere, and
| the demand continues slow as for
some time past. Trend Of prices was
slightly downward through January
| but markets we're fairly steady at the
| end of the month New Jersey sweets
ranged from 65 cents to 81 per busheI
| in Eastern cities Maryland and Dela-
ware stock of the Jersey type brought
mostly so cents to rs cents. North
| Carolina Porto Ricans sold at IS cents
| in Washington. but reached sl15 IN
! Pittsburgh Ungraded white yams sold
as low as Is cents to so cents in Phlla-
delphia and Baltimore.
Onion Prices Hold.
Recent gains in the onion market
were quite we'll maintained IN late jan
uary, and the position of choice STOCK
appeared satisfactory The only weak
| point was the competition OF some
| small poorly keeping onions. These
sold at comparatively low prices and
| gave a weak tone to conditions at
some country shipping points. Carlot
movement is light and holdings on
track have been decreasing since the
middle of the month, amounting some
days to scarcely more than 100 car
| loads in II city markets. Demand
continues generally slow, as might De
expected with prices relatively higher
than for other vegetables. Nearly all
Eastern markets report supplies on
hand moderate and demand only far.
Range of jobbing prices on gooo yeiloW
stock in Eastern cities Is S1.75 to S2.25
per so pounds. Some good Canadian
stock brought top of $3.50 in New York,
and a few Midwestern onions sold as
high as $265 in Washington and $3.50
in Atlanta. Red onions average
little higher than the yellow varietles
at present, and choice white STOCK
commands large premium, selling up
to $3.50 in a few markets.
Sales in Western New York produc-
ing sections indicated slightly weak
er trend, with some tots Of yellow
stock as low as $185 per so pounds.
Tone weakened also in Western Mich1-
gan, although demand was improving
there. Far Western country markets
were about steady, with demand light.
Cabbage Market Dull.
The dull condition of the vegetable
market in Northern producing sections
seems to be partly due to unseason--
ably mild weather which has affected
demand and keeping quality. The
warm weather has caused heaVy
shrinkage and correspondingly low
prices. In Western New York loaded
cars that were not moved promptly
often had to be discounted sharply
when sales were finally made. Bulk