Evening star., 1937-08-28
PRODUCE SALES
REMAIN DRAGGY
Moderate Nearby Supplies
Cover Most of Needs
in Some Lines.

fIulJ ana VeRethDle shipments CON-
tinued In late August at the rate Of
not far above $4,000 carloads a week,
and little below the same time last
year. Changes the third week of Au-
gust included further drop Of about
one-half from the week before in
melon movement and moderate further
decreases for oranges and lettuce.
More peaches, peas, sweet potatoes,
onions, cucumbers, celery, cauliflower
and carrots were shipped and there
were sharp increases for tomatoes,
plunls and prunes, also nearly one
fourth more potatoes.
Fruit and vegetable shipments for
the season are not far from S per cent
larger than last season to date, reports
the Bureau of Agricultural Economies.
Trading movement in the large city
markets was still generally slow and
draggy. The moderate supplies Of
nearby produce covered most Of the
demand for some lines Of fruits and
vegetables. Heavy rains the fourth
week Of August caused let-up in mar
keting and brought some probably
temporary price recoveries.
Growing Conditions Better.
Growing condition of many lines of
truck crops is still above that of a
year ago. Production of late-crop vege-
tables is indicated approximately one
sixth larger than last season and about
one-fifth above the five-year average.
The late onion crop is the main excep-
ton, heavy rainfall having cut down
output in some areas.
Harvesting is active in many of the
late potato-producing sections, in
Guiding New York, Pennsylvania and
many Western and Midwestern States
Early varieties from Maine are ap-
pearing in Boston and New York mar
kets. Potato markets have been dull
and weak, except for recoveries, prob
ably temporary, during b let-up in
shipments caused by unfavorable
weather in producing sections. Carlot
movement became light during the
last week of August
Jobbing range of New jersey stock
in Eastern markets was irregular at
30 to l.20 per 100 pounds. Prices at
New jersey shipping points were about
steady at 80 to IS; some poor lots
sold lower.
Sweet potatoes sold slowly in East
ern markets under gradually increas-
ing supplies. Eastern markets quoted
stock from Virginia, Maryland and
South Carolina mostly Its to $50 per
barrel and IS to 110 bushel pack.
Tops Of 1.25 were received for Gold
ems from Virginia Eastern Shore.
Onions Fairly Steady.
Supplies Of onions were moderate in
Eastern city markets in late August,
demand slow and prices fairly steady
at jobbing range of IS to Ito Der
so pounds for yellow stock, from East
ern sources. A few markets showed
small price gains late in the month.
Eastern apple markets continue
dull with little improvement from
prevailing low price levels, mostly
50 to IS per bushel for such varieties
as Duchess and Wealthy. New York
quotes early arrivals of Mcintosh at
1.25 to Its.
Apple prices at New York and
Chicago so far have been consider
ably lower compared with last year
and this situation is expected by
many dealers to continue, although
consuming demand seems likely to be
better this season.
Peach production is expected to
average about 10 per cent larger than
the five-year average and one-fourth
above the small crop OF last year.
Most markets still have liberal sup
plies, shipments are rather heavy and
trade generally slow. Elbertas from
Virginia. Maryland and Delaware sell
in leading Eastern markets at a job
bing range of l.25 to $50 per bushel
Prices in producing sections were
| rather firm in late August.