Evening star., 1946-07-04

As this is being written, 1t Is al
most as hard to get clear pic
ture of the local food situation as
1t is to determine the effects of
the bomb at Bikini. One fact seems
pretty well established, however, and
that is that the majority of far
sighted and high -principled mer-
chants are nobly holding the line"
on food prices, and intend to do
so as long as possible. There have
been some instances of increases
that seem to have been born of the
jet-propulsion school, so swift and
high is their rise-but these are
mostly of such a nature that passing
up the items involved should be a
simple way to effect a speedy cure
Just take butter, for example
You've had to do without it when
it wasn't to be had--you can do
without it while longer. and keep
your pocketbook intact. AS matter
of fact, not much more butter has
made its appearance, anyway.
Meats, too, are expected to be even
scarcer this week than last, despite
the disappearance of price controls.
It is. of course, a little too soon to
be sure of anything-for the time
has been yer" short in which to get
things really moving. Stewing chick
ems will be fairly plentiful, but fry
ers, bakers and broilers will be on
the scarce side, and, in some of the
smaller markets, show quite rise
per pound. Turkeys and ducks are
to be had-but also at price. Eggs
are plentiful and about the same as
last week in most instances.
Fish stays about as usual, with
shrimp the only item showing a
real increase in cost. Fish in gen.
eral has been high right along, and
such things as crab lump, lobster
meat, soft crabs, Eastern salmon and
clans have been in the luxury class
almost entirely. The fffleted fish,
such as haddock, sole, cod and so
on, are more reasonable, and there
should be good supplies of porgies,
croakers, spots, butterish. trout
and mackerel from which to choose.
Most vegetables stay the same as
last week, although weather and
other complications have reduced
stocks of some. Very plentiful are
cabbage. onions, new potatoes. let
tuce of various types, green onions,
and white and yellow corn. In ade-
quate supply we find snap beans,
carrots, celery, cucumbers. green
peppers, radishes, tomatoes, squash
beets and turnips. Definitely light
are peas, lima beans, asparagus
near the end of its season-broccoi.
caulifiower. eggplant. greens, sweet
potatoes and mushrooms.
Abundant fruits include peaches.
spricots, fine nectarines, grapefruit,
lemons, lines. cantaloupes, water
melons, and new green apples Santa
Rosa plums are of fine quality, and
there are good pineapples, avocados
and some bananas on the market.
A few seedless grapes have been
spotted here and there. Honeydews
and honeyballs are in fair supply
Bing and sour cherries are at their
peak. Blueberries. black and red
raspberries, huckleberries and black
berries round out the list.
Here and There: A New York
paper reports the arrival there of
the first timed hearts of palm to be
received from Brazil since prewar
days, Speciality shops have snatched
them up, but similar establishments
here have them on order, and hope
to display them on their shelves
before very long. In case you have
forgotten what these delicacies are
like, they remind one; of white
asparagus stalks. without tips. in
appearance, and taste like artichoke
hearts. They may be cooked, but
are at their best in salads.
Wandering through town the other
afternoon We saw brand-new "piz-
zaria" getting ready to open-good
news to devotees of "pizza" and
other italian foods. Don't dream