Evening star., 1933-04-08
VEGETABLE PRICES
STILL UNSETTLED
Markets Remain Dull and
Irregular, With Lower
Price Range.

culture, Bureau of Agricultural Eco
nomics, Market News Service Warmer
weather lessened the demand and I'm
paired the keeping quality. Supplies of
Southern produce from sections north
of Florida and Texas are competing
more strongly with Northern vege-
tables.
Carlot shipments of fruits and vege-
tables total about the same as in re-
cent weeks and the corresponding weeks
last year. Potato markets still show
strong tone in most producing sections,
and receipts of Northern potatoes are
decreasing. Onions and cabbage, old
and new, are declining gradually In
price as Southern shipments increase.
Apple shipments are lighter and prices
hold recent gains, although demand Is
not very active.
Potato Market Firm.
Prices of potatoes have not held all
the gain made last month, but recent
prices, slightly below the top, are being
well maintained and there is tendency
toward higher levels in some producing
sections. Shipments of old potatoes
are decreasing gradually and Southern
shipments are not very active yet.
Southern potatoes are selling about 81
q barrel lower this year, compared with
April, 1882, but Northern potatoes sell
not far from last seasons price level
Prices advanced 2 to cents per 100
pounds in Western New York, some sales
exceeding 10 cents. A few dealers have
been brushing some of their stock this
season and were able to get about 3
cents premium. Country roads are IN
poor condition in Eastern producing
sections, resulting in light haulings from
-s.~k- - d. r; y, re
with motor trucks are paying about the
same price as dealers are able to get
on wire orders. Prices to growers also
advanced in early April, averaging about
80 cents per 100 pounds in bulk. Some
dealers, East and West, are reported in
clined to hold in the expectation that
higher prices will prevail. Something
depends on the eXtsnt of Maine ship
ments, which, according to local re-
ports, are expected to range from $500
to IL 500 cars from now to the end OF
the season; but the activity during the
last part of the season will depend con-
siderably on the extent CT Southern
competition, which has been moderate
so far. Dealers In Maine producing
sections have been paying growers go to
selling sacked stock at shipping points
at so to SIS cents per 100 pounds.
Countrywide shipping point prices
range from SO to rs cents and the trend
was quite well maintained during the
first week of April. Supplies of old po-.
tatoes are moderate in most Eastern
markets, but rather liberal in the Middle
West. Demand appears to be generally
moderate. Jobbing sales of Maine pcta-
toes range about steady at 80 cents to
$1.20 per hundred pounds in Eastern
markets. New York and Pennsylvania
stock is quoted at IS cents to ST. The
Chicago market was fairly steady the
first week of April at 20 to rs cents.
Prices CT sweet potatoes did not
change much the first week of April
East and the Middle West. Eastern
Shore stock of the Jersey type brings
81 to $135 per bushel in Eastern mar
kets. Bushel pack from New Jersey
brings SIPS in Pittsburgh. North Caro-
lima Puerto Ricans range from so to rs
cents in Eastern markets. Nancy Halls
are quoted steady at SO to 10 cents
bushel.
Onions Lower.
The onion market weakened consid-
erably in late March and early April.
Heavy shipments, including many
onions of poor market quality, together
with the Unexpectedly good condition of
some OF the Southern receipts, have
apparently dulled the outlook for the
small remaining holdings Of Northern
onions. Demand has been slow in
Western New York, and prices declined
about 10 cents per so pounds In early
April, sales ranging from so to go cents.
Most of the onions remaining in West
ern and Central New York are in grow
ers' possession and are of rather ordi-
nary quality and condition
Not much Eastern stock is good
enough to bring more than rs cents per
so pounds in city markets, and the bulk
OF sales is at so to Is cents Massachu-
setts stock Of fair grade sold at so to
IS cents in Boston. A few Midwestern
yellow onions sell as high as 80 cents.
Few white onions are good enough to
bring more than SO cents. Prices of
Southern onions have declined rapidly
since the beginning of the season.
The season for old cabbage is nearly
over, although local estimates show 200
carloads available in Western New York
for April shipment. Probably many uf
these will be shipped by motor truck.
The condition is rather poor, and the
stock does not carry very well. Market
has been weak in Eastern producing
sections, and prices declined to So per
ton for bulk cabbage. The season has
been Improbable to growers. Most Of
the cabbage was sold to dealers az So
to SIS per ton early in the season, ccu-
pared with SIS to s12 the season before
and $12 to $45 two years ago. City
prices OF cabbage have declined consid-
erably further this month, ranging Sl2
to Sl6 per ton bulk in Eastern markets
the first week in April.
few sales of carrots are reported in
Eastern producing sections at slightly
higher prices, around so cents per 100
pounds for sacked stock. Shipments
have been much lighter this season,
scarcely exceeding 1000 carloads from
New York shipping points.
Apple Markets Steady.
Demand for apples has been slow
since the prices were advanced in late
March and early April. Accordingly,
the rising tendency has been checked,
although shipments are decreasing rap
idly. Trading has been rather limited
in Eastern producing sections. Prac-
tically all Of the Greetings are cleared
up and buyers seem unwilling to pay
the asking prices for Baldwins at $112-
S1.15 per bushel in Western New York.
Romes sell in the Rochester district at
S1.20-S1.30 and Mcintosh at $1.20-$1 .25.
Most OF the demand was for bushel
pack, and there are only few sales of
barrel pack for export.
Carlot arrivals are light to moderate
In Northern markets, but demand is
only fairly good. Jobbing sales of East
ern Staymans range mostly 80 cents to
$l.15 per bushel Some overripe sell
lower. Black Twigs are quoted rs cents
to 81 in Philadelphia. Baltimore and
Washington. Greetings in best condi-
tion reached $135 in the New York
market Spys and Kings sell at ST. in
Pittsburgh. Best lots of Mcintosh sold
from S1.50 to SITS a bushel in New
York. Yorks ranged mostly IS cents