Milford chronicle., 1934-03-02


Increased consuming demand this
season is suggested by ability of the
fruit and vegetable market TO hold
general price level far above that OF
a year ago, even though cOmbined
shipments are reaching about the
same daily or weekly totals this sea
son. II is probable that the actual
market supply has been somewhat
lighter as compared with last season
because of the weather conditions
aud the distant location of large
share OF the market product. Dis
tance and severe weather conditions
have been unfavoarble for motor
trucking and a larger proportion OF
the produce has moved by railroad.
Recent carlOt movement has been at
the rate of $500 carloads per week
day. Nearly One-third Of these are
filled with potatoes, One-third with
fruit and the others include increas-
ing quantities of new cabbage, let
tuce, greens and other truck crops.
Prices the second half Of Febru-
ary are following a fairly regular
trend as a group. Advances are OFF,
set by some declines and the course
of the market varies considerably In
different sections of the country.
Thus. eastern potatoes have been ad-
vancing this month while western
markets were declining. Last month
the strength was in the western
markets. Onions also have been
weaker in the west than IN the east.
but in general the prices in onion
producing sections have sagged off
gradually this month. The price of
old cabbage holds surprisingly well
because of scarcity. Prices of south
ern cabbage were unsettled. Celery
prices advanced. Carrots also gained
little. Sweet potato markets have
been holding we'll for a month past.
Most changes in the apple market
have been in the upward direction.
Produce trade in most of the large
eastern markets was extremely quiet !
during the renewed cold weather of !
late February. At the same time car
lot supplies were rather liberal. !
tending to weaken the position Of /
some products. The price trend con-
tinued unsettled.
Potato Markets Irregular
Prices of potatoes have been adj I
vancing i'm the east and declining in |
the west. Shipments became fairly |
liberal. awong to increasing demand |
from sections where the crop was !
short and supplies nearly exhausted.
A few of the General markets be-
came overloaded with carlot arriv-
ais for awhile and weather inteFfer-
red with distribution. resulting int
some price declines of to 10 cents
per 100 pounds In the highest point
of the year, but markets were hold
ing we'll at the slightly lower levels
and underlying position was still
strong and holders rather confident.
About half the current shipments
arc from Maine and Idaho, but Min
nesOta and Nebraska have been fair
ly active in recent carlOt movement.
Maine potato holders have been
firm in their position and prices
have been advancing TO around sl.70
per 100 pounds for sacked stock in
sections. while growers
were getting $3.50 or moro per bar
rel measure. Distribution Of Maine
potatoes has been wide. even to mar
kcts usually taking supplies from
The upper lakes region. JUbbing
prices of Maine stock have rengcd
mostly from SO to $2.35 per 100
pounds I'm eastern markets with
some tops of $3.50. Western baking
varieties sell at a premium of about
% cents over Maine and central
stock. New York round white variG-
les sell about IS cents lower than
Maine potatoes in eastern markets.
Maryland and Pennsylvania long
keeping white and red varieties sell
lbOut 20 cents below northern stock
N some markets and range $l.S5 to
'1.90 in Baltimore.
Prices of sweet potatoes were well ;
and in some markets