Smyrna times., 1935-06-27
BERRY CROP AID
TO FARMERS
One of the Most Profitable
Crops in Years Says State
Bureau of Markets
YIELDS YER $SOO,0O0

ware mas just enQeQ ana accord
ing to a survey made by the Bu-
reau of Markets, State Board of
Agriculture, Dover, about $500, 900
to S850,OO0 was received for this
crop. This does not mean that
every farmer in the State has
grown wealthy. Many farmers do
not produce strawberries, but it
does mean that those farmers who
did have Strawberries to sell this
season enjoyed one of the best sea-
sons they have experienced for sew
eral years. Bridgeville was by far
the largest shipping point this sea
son and from reports received,
Millsboro and Selbyville were the
largest shipping points. In the
Selbyville section the crop produc-
ed was considerably short of last
year. Strawberries are delivered
to shipping points from farmers
living within a radius of about ten
miles, but in some cases this year
farmers delivered their strawberr-
les from distance of twenty-five
miles or more There were be-
tween 115,0OO and 10000 32-quart
crates of strawberries shipped from
Bridgeville; 10000 to $4,000 from
Millsboro; $4,000 to $4,000 from
Selbyville. Practically all ship
ments were made in 32-quart
crates, although the 24-quart crate
was used to limited extent The
price paid to the growers this year
was on the average from 75c to
S1.00 per crate higher than last
year. Many of the growers report
that their average price for the
season was slightly less than $500
per crate. From information gath
cred from both growers and buy
ers, generally, it is believed that
the average price for the State as
a whole was $3.50 to $2.75 per 81
quart crate. Each truck load of
berries is stopped at the State Po-
lice Stations for weighing. A car
go pass is issued to the truck driv-
er which shows, among other
things, the number of crates of
barries on the load, the state of orr
gin, and the destination. The Bu-
reau of Markets tabulated these
reports during the past season and
according to this report the total
number of crates shipped by btruck
from Delaware was 222,411. In
addition to the truck shipments,
166 cars, or approximately $4,000
crates were shipped by rail from
Delaware. In addition to the
above, several thousands of crates
were purchased in the State for
preserving or cold pack purposes.
Strawberries from Delaware were
widely distributed throughout the
eastern part of the United States.
No report is available showing des-
tinations Of shipments made by
rail; however, a report covering
only one days shipment by truck
indicated that Delaware berries
were being shipped 70 the follow
ing cities and towns: New York
City, Philadelphia, Newark, Balti-
more, Bainbridge, Schenectady,
Buffalo, Providence, Hammonton,
Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Albany,
Boston, Bridgeport, New Haven,
Bethlehem, Toronto, Binghamton.
Syracuse, Altoona, Wilkes Barre,
Rochester, Watertown, Whining
ton, Amity, Aquebogue, Pottstown,
Elmira, Utica, Springfield, and
Scranton. The total amout of
strawberries shipped by truck from
the peninsula this year was higher
than for any year for which the
Bureau Of Markets has tabulated
reports, that is, since 1928. The
total amount shipped this season
by truck from the Virginia, Mary
land and Delaware peninsula
amounted to 735,829 crates The
next largest was in 1884 when $780,
377 crates were shipped. The
smallest year was in 1880, when
only 252,4S0 crates were strans-
ported by truck. The successful
strawberry season just past means
lot to the agricultural interest of
Delaware because there are so
many farmers who produce this
commodity. Many farmers do not
have more than one or two acres
Of strawberries, but in a season
such as the one which is past the
money is widely distributed. Farm
ers generally throughout the State
paid &c per quart for picking. A
large number of strawberry pick
ers are imported into this State
each year, but there is plenty of
work for local labor during the
season.