Evening star., 1944-07-13
Report to the Housewife

The hot weather will soon show
Its effect on crops coming into mar
kets-and has already done 50 in
the produce that is put on display
In the stalls and counters. Fresh
vegetables and fruits wilt almost as
soon as they are removed from their
cool storage rooms and it will well
repay you to get to market as early
as possible, make your choice quickly
and rush your prizes home to the
depths Of your own refrigerator. II
you must market after work, many
dealers will try TO give you a selec-
ton from stock that has not been
out on the counters all day, If you
ask for it especially.
Some vegetables, particularly,
spoil faster than others-notably
spinach and most Of the other
greens, except kale. Cauliflower,
too, can't stand the heat or the
humidity, and the firm white heads
that have been arriving lately from
New York State are mighty tired
looking after an hour or so in Wash
ington atmosphere. For this reason
a good many markets don't even try
to stock these items in hot weather
You will find that broccoli holds up
pretty well, celery $3.50, and water
cress may be kept fairly crisp by
tucking it into iced water in the
refrigerator
Recommended for the week end,
If the weather is extra warm, are
Western peas, at a reasonable price;
good snap beans, okra, tomatoes,
cabbage, green peppers, cucumbers,
garden and iceberg lettuce, as we'll
as romalne, potatoes, onions and
squash.
In the fruit line We find some
cherries still available, red and black
raspberries, superb cultivated blue
berries, good cantaloupes, honey
balls and honeydeWs (the latter
bit high in price,. Watermelons
are about the same as last week.
There is better variety of peaches
on hand, including the popular
Elbertas, Hiley Bellies and Jubilees.
Lines and lemons are plentiful, as
are oranges, and there are fair sup
plies OF grapefruit on the market.
Some seedleSS grapes, apricots and
plums, apples of several kinds, such
AS Transparent and Red Astrachans.
are good buys. There are bananas
and few nectarines in the speciality
stores.
Fish is in fairly good supply this
week, especially those that come
from nearby waters. Best buys in
clude the f1lleted fish, hardheads.
Norfolk spots, Boston mackerel, pan
trout, sea bass butterfish and fresh
nounder. Fresh Eastern salmon is
plentiful, but expensive, and the first
fresh halibut is expected this week
end-also at a price. Soft crabs are
light in supply and prohibitive in
cost, crab meat, though plentiful. is
still pretty much in the luxury class.
as is lobster from New England.
Shrimps will be scarce again, but
there will be plenty of clans to be
be had.
There's no change in the set-up on
chickens; you'll find fryers, bakers
and steWers all in good supply and
nice quality. Eggs are still plentiful,
although those from nearby sources
have dropped off in quantity.
Luncheon meats are your best bet
In the meat line, both from the sup
ply and the weather angle. Smoked
beet tongues are also recommended,
especially as they can be cooked,
end used cold in so many appetiz-
ing ways Ground beef is selling we'll,
but other beef cuts are few and far
between. There is less veal than
there was last week, and pork, too