Evening star., 1945-01-11
Report to the Housewife

After period of renewed ration
ing, it is interesting to note that,
from the dealers and housewives
point of view, most meats are, ac-
tually, scarcer than they were before
the new point values were clamped
on. AT least, it certainly seems hard
er to find any cuts of beef, lamb or
veal in most markets-it isn't the
case any longer of taking what you
can find, it's a case of finding some
thing you can take! Pork, of course,
in all forms is the most elusive
and this picture seems to be true of
large and small markets alike. The
hunt-and-grab method of marketing
is rapidly becoming the order of the
day, and many woman who hither-
to has been a Mrs. Milquetoast when
on a shopping tour, has turned into
a roaring lionesS when on the trail
of a half pound of hamburger.
Although some markets have been
able TO get Western chickens, there
are relatively few to be had Some
ducks are expected for the week.
end trade, We are told, and speciality
poulterers-if you can find one that
has managed to stay open despite
the chicken "freeze" offering
squads and guinea hens, and some
turkeys.
The fish picture is the brightest,
with plenty of porgies, Spanish
mackerel, fresh sea bass, frozen
rockfish, bluefish and trout leading
the field. Some red snapper and the
delicate pompano have reached us
from the South, and there will be
plenty OF raw and cooked shrimp
available. Cod, perch and mackerel
dllets are in good supply, and in
some shops you may be able to get
cod cheeks or tongues, if you like
them,
Produce is in good supply, al
though in most instances items are
selling at top ceiling prices. Better
shipments of Florida strawberries
have been coming in, if you can
stand the price. Persimmons have
gone for this season, but there are
all sorts of good citrus fruits to be
had, andSthe lemon shortage seems
definitely over. HothouSe rhubarb
has disappeared temporarily, but is
expected again shortly. Avocados are
scarce-lt is between season for
them, as the California shipments
nave not yet started and the Florida
crops are just about over There are
still plenty of pears and grapes to
be had, good pineapples from Cuba,
5nd more bananas than we have seen
for some time.
Fine quality peaS-at a price-are
expected shortly from California.
Good snap beans, all members of the
greens and the cabbage families are
recommended. Idaho potatoes have
been a bit scarce, but dealers are
looking for more shipments, and
there are plenty of the regular kind.
Summer squash, both white and yell
low, is available, and celery, which
mas been for the most part of the
all-green Pascal type, is now COM
ing IN bit whittier and in the small
heart" variety. There is plenty of
Iceberg lettuce about, but practically
none of the Big Boston variety. Gu
cumbers, green peppers and egg
plants are scarce. Mushrooms are
recommended, and all the root vege-
table are safe and sane buys.
Grade A eggs will be still cheaper
this week, dealers say, and there
are more stocks Of the SwisS-type
cheese on hand. Other cheeses. with
the exception of the glassed spreads,
are hard to find, as is cottage cheese,
N most markets.
x X
Here and There: According to
VIA, the coffee supply situation
has improved materially in the last
two months. On January l there
was between three and four months
cn1rArnl1, a. nnfnn ont11o1l1r in the