Milford chronicle., 1937-07-23

moderate, although distribution OF
potatoes is satisfactory to dealers
and such hot weather products as
cantaloupes and melons have been
clearing as well as could be expected
with heavy supplies. Prices near the
middle of the month showed fewer
sharp changes than for the week be-
fore. Potatoes, lettuce, peaches, and
apples follow fairly steady jobbing
price trends. Onions, peas, carrots,
tomatoes, and honeydews are weaker
OF slightly lower. Melons still sell
at low prices under extra heavy
southern receipts.
Prices compared. with year ago
are conspicuously lower for potatoes,
] lettuce. melons. and tomatoes; but
are higher for carrots. onions. and
cantaloupes. Increasing quantity
and variety of nearby supplies means
sharp competition in most markets,
even those far north. Weather con-
ditions have been variable for growth
of truck crops in most OF the chief
consuming regions. Local fruits and
vegetables are expected to supply
an increasing proportion of the needs
of central markets through the rest
of the summer and the early tall
months.
Shipments Increase
Shipments of fruits and vegetables
increased a few hundred cars for the
week, with a total of 19,400, which
was 1900 more than for the same
week last year, reports the Bureau OF
Agricultural Economics. Feature
was the heavy output Of melons,
about $500 carloads. More than $500
carloads were shipped in one day.
Potato shipments fell back moderate
ly to about the volume OF year ago.
Cantaloupe movement also receded
but was still more than 1,1OO cars.
besides as many more OF honeydeW
and honeyball. Lettuce continued
to exceed 1000 cars per week. Citrus
output decreased further. Apples
increased again, gaining about 100
cars. Peach shipments, about 300
cars, were less than half the volume
of the same week last year. Pear
shipments are light but increasing.
Tomato movement is fairly active,
above 900 cars. Carlot carrots, cab
bage, beans, spinach. and strawber-
ries are light Peas. onions. and corn
are moving in moderate volume Tor
the time of year.
Potatoes Fairly Steady
Prices of potatoes remained about
steady for most lines. The shipping
volume had fallen of to about 500
cars per day toward the middle of
the month. Movement was chiefly
from Virginia. Maryland. Kansas and |
Missouri. Quality of the Kaw Valley,
Kansas. crop has been good except |
the size.
Shipments from the Eastern Shore /
of Virginia this season have been /
running more uniform than usual.
partly because of the slight shortage |
OF labor and partly owing to the
coopers being unable to supply bar
rels quite so rapidly as needed. De-
mand for carlots has been fairly
steady, resulting in cars being billed
out about as fast as loaded. instead
of being allowed to accumulate at
shipping points.
The nearly steady market in the
East has been supported by readiness
of the Government agency to buy at
$3.50 per barrel or soc per sack,
cash to grower. General range OF
prices in the East and Middle West
has been above this level, mostly 85c
to s1.10 per 100 pounds.
During the rest of the summer tur-
ther active potato movement is ex-
pected from Virginia, Maryland, New
Jersey, Idaho, and several midwest
ern shipping sections. The crop in
New Jersey and Nebraska is esti-
mated 10 per cent larger than last
season and 81 per cent greater than
the five year average. The early po-
tato crop, as a whole, is estimated
i3 per cent above last seasons pro-
1uction and % per cent above aver
age.
Moderate Onion Trade
Onion markets are slightly weaker
IN the East with a moderate demand
1t a jobbing range of 81 to S1.2O per
30 pounds for yellow varieties. There
was some rain damage to onions in
he Middle West, but in general. the
,rop is doing we'll.
Condition of the market cabbage
crop is good in most sections. Grow {
ng condition is Sc per cent for mid
ieason cabbage and SS per cent for ;
he late crop. Acreage of late do |
nestle cabbage has increased 10 per {
,ent compared with last season and /
6 per cent compared with the five
ear average.
Shipments from some of the mid
eason States are about done. but
Jew Jersey. Virginia. Illinois. and :
owa will continue until late fall. :
he late domestic crop will start
moving in a small way this month
ut heavy shipments are not expected
ntil late August or In September. d