Evening star., 1945-04-19
By Betsy CasweH,
Women'x Nevs Editor

Whether this column is accent
uattng the positive" or eliminating
the negative" these DAYS is any,
oodys guess-including ours. Ger
tainly we do try to accent the
Items that ARE available in local
markets-but we seem to do an
equal amount of eliminating" of
those that are on the negative side.
It's a bit difficult to present a clear
1000 picture when there is so much
confusion and variation in the sit
uation, so the best we can do is give
you a once-over-lightly, with our
nngerS crossed and rabbits foot
clutched in the other hand, hoping
that the whole kaleidoscope won't
shift during the week end.
Wen get the bad news out of the
way first. Meats will be no better
than they have been, and in many
instances, will be scarcer than ever.
There may be a little veal and beef
on hand, and possibly one or two
markets will have few cuts of lamb
Tor sale to early shoppers, but the
outlook IN general is discouraging
to say the least. Many small retail
meat stores have closed entirely, or
Will be open only for the week end
to serve their customers. Poultry
dealers have been affected in the
same way, and the scarcity of chick
ems, ducks and so on continues with
faint prospect of improvement.
Locally, the better-grade eggs will be
scarcer this week end: this, however,
Is expected to be only a temporary
embarrassment, according to several
dealers.
Butter, which has been plentiful,
and unsought, because of its high
point value, has now suffered a mo-
mentary shortage in some markets
here. 1t is said that this is due
to the fact that the unbought but
ter was piling up; dealers had to
cancel orders to keep from being
overstocked-and because meat has
been so scarce, many housewives
have spent red points to buy butter
instead Of the unavailable chops or
roasts.
Now we can look at the brighter
side. Fish-yes, I know, you're
tired to death of it, but be glad
you've got it; suppose you lived in
a part Of the country where it was
hard to obtain?-will be plentiful
and possibly a. bit more reasonable
than 1t has been. Buck and roe Shad,
from Chesapeake and New Jersey
waters, head the list; the roes
can be purchased without the fish,
too, of course. Plenty of good rock
fish is to be had, along with croakers,
sea bass, trout, fresh founder, blue
fish, mackerel, cod, haddock and
perch flllets. Shrimps continue
scarce, and while crab meat Is plenti-
ful, 1t is SO expensive that few of
us can buy it, Some lobster, at a |
price is coming in, and there are
good clans, that are fairly reason
able.
Although most cheeses are very
hard to find, good cottage and
cream cheese will both be recon-
mended buys for the week end.
In the produce line, the extra
fancy asparagus from New Jersey is
outstanding. Greens from nearby
are also excellent, and include COL
lards, spinach, rape salad, poke salad
and turnip tops. New beets from
Norfolk and young carrots from
California, Texas and Arizona are
in good supply. Snap beans and
peas are good, although not too
cheap; limas, broccoli, caulifower
and mushrooms are a bit on the
short side. Celery, lettuce, green
peppers, tomatoes, onions, egg plant,
cabbage and potatoes are all recon-
mended.
Strawberries from the Carolinas
are the best I've seen this season, big
and beautiful, and very sweet. There
are plenty of apples, grapefruit,
oranges for juice and for table,
lemons and lines. Avocados are a
little light in supply, but of good
quality. Rhubarb, pears from Ore