Chicago an Important Market for Raspberries and Small Fruits.
Large supplies of raspberries and loganberries have recently been arriving on the Chicago market from the Pacific Northwest. Special train service has been provided by one of the leading railroads, so that these highly perishable fruits come through in record time and in good condition.
According to reports of a Chicago representative of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, prices of Northwestern red raspberries have ranged from $3 per 24–pt. crate to as high as $4.50 per crate for the best stock at the beginning of the season. The average price has been around $3.50–$4 for good stock, with a fairly steady market.
At this season of the year in Chicago most of the small fruit competition is from Michigan. Heavy supplies of Michigan blackberries, red raspberries, black raspberries, and blueberries have been coming in during July. There has also been a liberal supply of red currants and gooseberries. The following table shows the jobbing prices of these fruits in comparison with berries from the Northwest and from New York:
| Source and kind of fruit. | Size of crate. | Price. |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest red raspberries | 24–pint | $3.50–4.00 |
| S. Michigan red raspberries | 24–pint | 2.50–3.50 |
| N. Michigan red raspberries | 24–pint | 3.00–3.75 |
| Michigan black raspberries | 24–pint | 1.50–2.25 |
| Michigan black raspberries | 16–quart | 2.00–2.50 |
| Michigan blackberries | 16–quart | 1.75–2.50 |
| Michigan gooseberries | 16–quart | 2.00–2.50 |
| Michigan currants (large) | 16–quart | 2.75–3.25 |
| Michigan currants (small) | 16–quart | 2.00–2.50 |
| Michigan blueberries | 16–quart | 3.00–4.50 |
| New York currants (red) | 32–quart | 4.00–6.00 |
| New York red raspberries | 48–pint | 3.25 |
| Michigan sweet cherries | 16–quart | 1.00–3.50 |
Black raspberries from Michigan have not sold as high as reds this season, although in many seasons they sell at the same levels. Currants and gooseberries have varied widely in price. Blueberries have been in good demand.
New York has shipped a large volume of red currants to Chicago in 32–qt. crates and these have ranged $4–$6, depending on the quality, condition, and the market. One car of New York State Columbia red raspberries, shipped from Clyde, Wayne County, has arrived to date and sold at $3.25 per 48–pt. crate. This stock was of fine quality but in rather poor condition.
Practically all of the sour cherry supply comes from Michigan, packed in 16–qt. crates and, after the first few Early Richmonds, consists principally of Montmorency and a few English Morello. Wisconsin also ships a few cars of Montmorency in the same package. Odd lots of sweet cherries in 16–qt. boxes come from Michigan. These for the most part vary widely in quality and condition and are not graded well enough or handled carefully enough to compete with the well-packed sweet cherries, principally Royal Annes and Bings, from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. Most of them are Black Tartarians, Windsors, Bings, and Napoleons (same cherry as the western Royal Anne). The price has had the exceedingly wide range of $1–$3.50 per 16–qt. crate.