Evening star., 1933-06-10
WHOLESALE PRICES
OF POTATOES RISE
Sharp Advance Is Feature of
Produce Markets in Early
June.

lie sharp Use III Tile WiIOiSStlt potd~
to market was a feature of the produce
situation in early June, according to
the United States Department of Agri-
culture report. The price of old crop
Northern stock at Chicago jumped 25
to so cents per 100 pounds over the
week end, owing to a temporary let-up
in supply, then subsided considerably,
under new receipts.
Some other lines of produce. includ-
ing Strawberries, tomatoes, onions, eel
cry and cabbage, showed a brief up
ward trend, but so far, the fruits and
vegetables generally have. not shared
much in the market upswing of farm
products. Carlot shipments are coming
at about the seasons usual rate of some
1000 daily. Asparagus was moving into
Eastern city markets from a group OF
States, which included Maryland, Dela-
ware. New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Shipments were active in June and con-
siderably exceeded the figures for the
same period a year ago. In New York
City, asparagus arrivals were selling
from s1.25 to 81 per crate.
Berry Shipments Decrease.
Strawberries in carlots are decreasing,
but truck movement is heavy and prices
are low, especially in Eastern markets.
Apple prices are about steady, and the
market fairly active for so late in the
season. The hot weather fruits, lem
ons, cantaloupes and melons, are SELL
ing better this month at fairly well
sustained price level. The berry season
is becoming active in the more Northern
producing sections. Various varieties
from Pennsylvania were reported SELL
ing in Philadelphia at So per 32-quart
crate. A few up-river section New
York State berries sold at 8 to 10 cents
per quart in New York city, with an
occasional sale as high as IL cents, al
though the market supply in that city
was reported liberal. Shipments from
Virginia, Maryland and North Caro-
lima this season have greatly exceeded
those of a year ago.
The upswing in potato prices fol-
lowed a period of light shipments of old
and new stock, resulting in compara-
tive shortage of supplies at several Of
the larger markets. Prices jumped sud-
denly from around 80 cents per 100
pounds on Northern old-crop potatoes
In the Chicago carlot market, to a
range of $1.25 to $1.35, but a slight in
crease in shipments erased part of the
gain, although the price stayed from
20 to 80 above the levels of late May.
The price upswing made slower progress
in Eastern sections, but the gain was
held more firmly. General range of
$1.15 to s1.50 per 100 pounds for Maine
Green Mountains was from 20 to 80
cents above that of early June. The
price in Maine producing sections had
practically doubled from the low point
of May. Demand was moderate at the
higher price levels of 80 to IS cents per
100 pounds in ArooStook County, but
the market retained the gain.
Heaviest supplies of new potatoes
are now from North Carolina, which
some days supplies about one-half the
carlot shipments moving. This stock
sells around SO to $3.25 per barrel in
New York City, Baltimore and In
Washington, and top prices of $3.75
and S3.85 were quoted in Boston and
Pittsburgh. Rather heavy shipments
from North Carolina had kept down
prices of this stock at a fairly steady
range, and prospects of light arrivals
from Virginia producing sections, bA-
ginning the market season for that
State, added to the uncertainty of the
price position of new-crop potatoes.
Lettuce and Celery.
The Northern markets for big Boston
type lettuce from New Jersey weakened
considerably the first week of June.
Prices we're so low that shipments be-
came very light and some slight re-
covefy was noted in quotations in one
or two Eastern cities. Orange County,
New York, was sending lettuce of this
type into New York City at price
range of 40 to so cents per crate OF
two dozen heads.
Rather peculiar circumstances fea-
tured the Northern celery markets in
early June. Receipts have been mod
crate, demand moderate and prices
rather high for the quality of the stock
offered from the South. Florida stock
was reported by dealers as rather green,
yet prices held from 81 to $5.25 per
crate for the desirable sizes in New
$3.50 was reported. Celery from North
ern Jersey and from Orange County,
New York. was expected in the New
York market the first week of June.
Occasional carlots of old-crop on
ions are still being shipped from New
York and other points, and they are
still on sale in various city markets
at so to go cents per SO pounds Texas
onions are in lighter supply this sea-
son and left an opening for the last
Of the old Northern crop.
SdUUdSc HdIhSIS were SuiueWudI II
regular and unsettled the first week of
June. Carlot shipments were not very
heavy and most cities reported moder-
ate supplies. Price trend slanted up
ward in a few of the larger cities.
Maryland cabbage sold at rs to IS
cents per 112-bushel hamper in BaIti-
more, but brought from 81 to S115 in
New York and Boston. General range
on arrivals from Virginia in early June
was from so to rs cents.