Evening star., 1932-04-19
PRODUCE MARKETS
IN F|RMER TREND
Gain in Wheat Prices Is
Feature of Mid-ApriI
Trading.

The markets on leading farm prod
uctS were showing considerably better
action in mid-April, says the United
States Department of Agriculture. Bu-
reau of Agricultural Economics, Market
News Service. The rise in the wheat
market was a pronounced feature and
there was no extreme weakness any,
where. Cotton fully held its own. Live
STOCK was IN greater demand and held
prices we'll against larger supplies. Po-
tatoes were showing price recoveries.
Eggs and poultry continued fairly
steady Butter and cheese were the
weakest features, but declines were
slight to moderate and resulted mainly
from the tendency to larger supplies at
this season.
Butter Unsettled.
The general tone of the butter mar
ket throughout the first half of April
was nervous and unsettled Further
price declines of one-quarter to one
half cent were recorded near the mid
die of the month. There appeared to
be general lack of confidence in but
ter at the present price levels on the
part of receivers and buyers. Arrivals
of butter at leading markets were
somewhat heavier, yet pasture condi-
tionS of early April in States where
cows are normally on pasture by that
time were reported as 70.6 per cent,
which was substantially lower than
that of the previous eight years. Pro-
duction per COW on April l, as re-
ported by crop reporters, was 5 per
cent lower than on any April 1 during
the past four years.
oh p
ketS was reflected in an easier tone in
mid-April distributing markets and in
fractional price declines at Chicago
and Philadelphia.
Potato Market Firm.
Old potatoes were in a generally
firmer position. Shippers of Round
Whites in Western New York were get
ting 80 cents per 100 pounds, and best
Green Mountains advanced in Northern
Maine to 5O-55 cents. Michigan f. o. b..
sales were higher at IS to 70 cents, but
Wisconsin prices declined little to
$3.50 cents.
Old yellow onions are selling higher
in Western New York at $3.50 to $3.75
per bag of SO pounds. City prices ad-
received 18 carloads from Egypt and
tuce declined sharply at Arizona ship
ping points, during the peak move
ment. Southeastern Big Boston held
about steady. Tomato prices tended
upward City prices of all cabbage
were mostly lower.
Sweet potatoes at last report Of the
season held most of their recent slight
gains, except for a decline on Tennes-
see Nancy Halls and on Louisiana Porto
Ricans. Celery was selling lower and
asparagus declined rather sharply.
Texas spinach also declined
Louisiana strawberries dropped to an
average of $2.70 per 24-pint crate on
the f. o. b. auction at Hammond. Best
Baldwin apples were slightly weaker in
Western New York at 81 10 per bushel,
with barrels at $3 Extra fancy, me-
dunn to large Winesaps were stronger
in the Pacific Northwest at 95 cents to
81 per box.
Fairly Steady Egg Markets.
The egg markets have been rela-
lively steady in April, although there
was a slight decline of one-fourth cent
per dozen near the middle of the month.
This slight weakness was the result Of
a rather sharp increase in receipts at
the principal markets without cor
responding increase in demand. On
the whole, the continuation Of the
weak and indifferent demand, including
light buying for storage, is a very un-
settling factor in market sentiment.