HEAVY PRODUCE MOVEMENT SENDS PRICE TREND DOWNWARD.
Potato Shipments Double Those of Preceding Week—Total Movement Near Peak of Season.
Potato prices declined during the week ending Oct. 3 under the heaviest movement of the season. Prices of cabbage and sweet potatoes were lower. Apple prices showed a weaker tone. Other lines were fairly steady. Total shipments of leading lines for the week were 24,033 cars, or about one-third more than during the preceding week. During the corresponding week last year 17,283 cars were moved. The heaviest week’s movement last season was during Oct. 12 to 18, with 27,171 cars.
POTATO SHIPMENTS HEAVY.
Potatoes.—Potato shipments reached 10,001 cars during the week ending Oct. 1, thereby increasing the season’s total shipments to 80,560 cars as compared with 65,833 cars moved last year to the same date. The week’s shipments nearly doubled those of last week which were 5,824 cars. Minnesota, the heaviest contributing State, shipped 2,573 cars, North Dakota 1,656 cars, and Maine 1,010 cars. Markets were heavily supplied, demand was slow and prices declined, but strengthened at the close. New York Round Whites declined 25¢ to a close of $1.75 per 100 lbs. sacked f. o. b. shipping points and ranged 40¢ to 50¢ lower in Pittsburgh at $2 to $2.10. Bulk stock declined 25¢ to 50¢ in Philadelphia to a range of $1.75 to $2 the middle of the week, but recovered at the close and ruled $2.15, a net loss of 10¢ from last week’s price.
Northern Round Whites declined 70¢ in the Chicago carlot market, to a range of $1.65 to $1.85, but strengthened to a close of $1.90 to $2. In producing sections, prices declined 20¢ to 35¢ during the week, ranging $1.45 to $1.80, but closed stronger at $1.60 to $1.90 f. o. b. Idaho Rurals ruled 25¢ lower at $1.10 f. o. b. shipping points. Maine Irish Cobblers followed the general trend, showing a net loss at shipping points of 25¢ and closing at $1.11 to $1.21 per 100 lbs., bulk f. o. b. Green Mountains declined 10¢ to 20¢ and closed at $1.26 to $1.41. Cobblers declined 15¢ to 25¢ in consuming markets, bulk stock ranging $1.65 to $1.85 in New York and sacked stock $1.75 to $1.85 in Boston.
Sweet potatoes.—Sweet potato markets were well supplied, demand was slow to moderate and prices weakened. More than half the week’s supply in city markets was furnished by Virginia, now the leading shipping State. Yellow varieties from the Eastern Shore lost $1.25 in New York City, closing weak at $2.75 to $3 per bbl. This stock ranged $4 to $4.50 in Chicago and $4 to $4.25 in other markets. Tennessee Nancy Halls declined 10¢ to 30¢ in Chicago to a range of 90¢ to $1.15 per bushel hamper, but were firm in St. Louis at $1.15. New Jersey yellow varieties were about steady in New York at $1.50 to $1.60 per bushel hamper and in Pittsburgh at $2, but weakened slightly in Chicago to a range of $1.90 to $2.15.
Apples.—Apple markets were well supplied, demand was slow to moderate, and prices show some declines. New York Baldwins, A21⁄2, were steady at $6.50 to $7 per bbl. in New York, $7 to $7.50 in Philadelphia, and sold in Boston at $2.10 to $2.15 per bu. box. This stock closed 25¢ higher at $6.25 f. o. b. shipping points. New York Rhode Island Greenings declined 50¢, closing at $7.50 to $8.25 in Chicago, and at $8 to $9 in New York. Northwestern Extra Fancy Jonathans were firm early in the week in New York City at $4.75 to $5 per box, but declined to a close of $4 to $4.25. Total shipments of apples from all sections for the season were 17,288 cars, or slightly more than for last season to the same date. Boxed apple shipments were 3,568 cars, or nearly double last week’s movement and more than three times as heavy as for the same week a year ago. Washington with 1,864 cars exceeded last week’s entire boxed apple movement of 1,846 cars. Barreled apple shipments were 2,348 cars compared with 2,771 a year ago. New York, the heaviest shipping section, sent 1,301 cars.
Onions.—Demand for onions was slow and markets were dull in the East. Chicago held steady. Eastern yellow Globes No. 1 were firm in New York the middle of the week at $3.75 to $4 per 100 lbs. sacked, but declined later, reaching $3.25 to $3.50. Other markets were firm at $3.75 to $4. Middle western yellow stock strengthened in New York and Cincinnati, ranging $4 to $4.25, and declined 25¢ in Pittsburgh, clos- $3.75 to $4. California yellow and brown varieties were steady in Chicago at $4.25 to $4.50.
Cabbage.—Markets for cabbage were dull in producing sections, with slow demand and movement. New York Danish type stock declined $2, ranging $30 to $33 per ton bulk f. o. b.; domestic closed slightly higher than last week at $23 to $25. A decline of about $10 occurred in consuming markets. Domestic stock closed at $30 to $35 in New York and at $20 to $25 in Philadelphia. Northern Danish held steady in Chicago at $35 and at $40 in St. Louis. Cabbage shipments for the week were 682 cars, exceeding those for the same time last year, but showing a decrease from last week’s movement. New York shipped 197 cars, Wisconsin 177, and Colorado 154.
CARLOAD SHIPMENTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
| Commodity. | Week of Sept. 25 to Oct. 1. | September. | August. | July. | Season to Oct. 1. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 1920 | 1921 | 1920 | 1921 | 1920 | 1921 | 1920 | 1921 | 1920 | |
| Apples: | ||||||||||
| Boxed | 3,568 | 1,109 | 6,188 | 2,048 | 1,005 | 846 | 368 | 278 | 8,277 | 3,440 |
| Barreled | 2,348 | 2,771 | 5,692 | 8,995 | 2,215 | 2,854 | 659 | 1,560 | 9,061 | 13,824 |
| Cabbage | 682 | 522 | 2,514 | 1,791 | 1,293 | 993 | 416 | 507 | 17,396 | 17,691 |
| Cantaloupes | 113 | 259 | 2,091 | 2,784 | 5,917 | 6,771 | 8,016 | 5,284 | 24,538 | 22,316 |
| Celery | 145 | 113 | 445 | 420 | 219 | 150 | 98 | 68 | 4,958 | 3,633 |
| Grapes | 4,316 | 3,466 | 15,496 | 12,001 | 2,810 | 4,647 | 363 | 366 | 19,332 | 17,652 |
| Lettuce | 300 | 132 | 1,280 | 832 | 1,113 | 934 | 1,377 | 980 | 16,453 | 11,847 |
| Onions | 730 | 932 | 3,074 | 3,674 | 1,816 | 1,899 | 1,403 | 1,031 | 11,758 | 13,344 |
| Peaches | 41 | 1,795 | 4,921 | 10,528 | 6,937 | 6,284 | 8,673 | 6,881 | 25,967 | 25,474 |
| Pears | 546 | 786 | 3,793 | 4,850 | 5,089 | 3,079 | 1,461 | 2,417 | 10,458 | 10,462 |
| Potatoes: | ||||||||||
| Sweet | 692 | 531 | 2,799 | 2,840 | 1,860 | 665 | 225 | 92 | 5,038 | 3,656 |
| White | 10,001 | 4,055 | 24,707 | 18,057 | 15,639 | 13,583 | 16,513 | 15,621 | 80,560 | 65,833 |
| Tomatoes | 387 | 692 | 2,468 | 3,434 | 995 | 1,604 | 1,644 | 2,180 | 15,074 | 13,652 |
| Watermelons | 91 | 92 | 1,788 | 2,174 | 11,435 | 10,299 | 19,206 | 20,199 | 44,172 | 39,109 |
| Vegetables (mixed) | 309 | 233 | 1,323 | 947 | 1,380 | 972 | 1,369 | 719 | 12,340 | 9,453 |
| Total | 24,269 | 17,488 | 78,579 | 75,375 | 59,723 | 55,580 | 61,791 | 58,183 | 305,382 | 271,386 |
PRICES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
Jobbing Range.
| POTATOES, Eastern and Northern Round-Whites, No. 1, per 100 lbs. sacked. | ||||||||||
| Market. | Car- loads re- ceived. | This season. | One year ago. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3 | Sept. 26. | |||||||||
| New York | 428 | [1]$1.65 | - | $1.80 | [1]$2.20 | - | $2.30 | [2]$1.70 | - | $1.80 |
| Boston | 270 | [1]1.75 | - | 1.85 | [1]2.00 | [1]1.75 | - | 1.85 | ||
| Philadelphia | 202 | [1]2.00 | - | 2.15 | 2.25 | 2.00 | ||||
| Pittsburgh | 178 | 2.00 | - | 2.10 | 2.50 | 2.50 | - | 2.65 | ||
| Cincinnati | 69 | 2.35 | 2.50 | - | 2.65 | 2.35 | ||||
| Chicago | 701 | [3]1.90 | - | 2.00 | [3]2.35 | - | 2.50 | [3]2.00 | - | 2.25 |
| St. Louis | 99 | [4]2.25 | - | 2.30 | [4]2.50 | - | 2.65 | 2.30 | - | 2.40 |
| Kansas City | 217 | [4]2.00 | - | 2.10 | [4]2.30 | [4]1.75 | - | 2.00 | ||
| SWEET POTATOES, Virginia Eastern Shore Yellow Varieties, Barrels. | ||||||||||
| New York | 109 | $2.75 | - | $3.00 | $3.50 | - | $4.00 | $3.75 | - | $4.25 |
| Boston | 32 | 4.00 | - | 4.25 | 4.00 | - | 4.25 | 4.25 | - | 4.50 |
| Philadelphia | 1 | 4.00 | 3.25 | ... | ||||||
| Pittsburgh | 28 | 4.00 | - | 4.15 | 4.00 | 4.25 | - | 4.50 | ||
| Cincinnati | 11 | 4.00 | - | 4.25 | 4.25 | - | 4.50 | 4.00 | - | 4.25 |
| Chicago | 41 | 4.00 | - | 4.50 | 4.50 | - | 4.75 | 4.25 | - | 4.75 |
| St. Louis | 1 | [5]1.15 | [5]1.10 | - | 1.15 | [5]1.25 | ||||
| Kansas City | ... | [5]1.00 | - | 1.10 | [5]1.15 | - | 1.25 | ... | ||
| ONIONS, Eastern and Middle Western Yellow Globes, No. 1, per 100 lbs. sacked. | ||||||||||
| New York | 99 | $3.25 | - | $3.50 | $3.50 | - | $3.75 | $1.75 | - | $1.90 |
| Boston | 30 | 3.75 | 3.50 | - | 3.75 | 1.50 | - | 1.60 | ||
| Philadelphia | 30 | 4.00 | 3.25 | - | 4.00 | 1.25 | - | 1.60 | ||
| Pittsburgh | 40 | 3.75 | - | 4.00 | 3.75 | - | 4.25 | 1.50 | - | 1.75 |
| Cincinnati | 9 | 4.25 | 3.75 | - | 4.25 | 1.50 | ||||
| Chicago | 90 | 3.75 | - | 4.00 | 3.50 | - | 3.75 | 1.75 | - | 1.90 |
| St. Louis | 29 | [6]3.50 | - | 3.75 | [6]3.75 | [6]1.85 | - | 2.00 | ||
| Kansas City | 30 | [6]3.00 | - | 3.25 | [6]2.25 | [6]1.75 | ||||
| CABBAGE, New York and Northern Domestic, per Ton Bulk. | ||||||||||
| New York | 29 | $30 | - | $35 | $40 | ... | ||||
| Philadelphia | 26 | 15 | - | 20 | $30 | - | 35 | $10 | - | $13 |
| Pittsburgh | 12 | [7]2.00 | - | 2.25 | [7]2.00 | - | 2.25 | 20 | ||
| Cincinnati | 10 | 24 | - | 25 | 35 | - | 40 | 18 | - | 20 |
| Chicago | 38 | [8]35 | 24 | - | 25 | 8 | - | 9 | ||
| St. Louis | 57 | [8]40 | 35 | - | 40 | 30 | - | 35 | ||
| Kansas City | 48 | [7]1.75 | [7]2.25 | [7]1.50 | ||||||
| APPLES, New York and Maine Baldwins and Fall Varieties,A21⁄2, Barrels. | ||||||||||
| New York | 408 | $6.50 | - | $7.00 | $8.00 | - | $12.00 | $5.00 | - | $5.50 |
| Boston | 121 | 8.00 | - | 9.00 | 6.00 | - | 10.00 | 4.00 | ||
| Philadelphia | 118 | 7.00 | - | 7.50 | 8.00 | - | 10.50 | 4.50 | ||
| Pittsburgh | 92 | 8.00 | - | 8.50 | 7.00 | 4.00 | - | 4.50 | ||
| Cincinnati | 100 | 8.00 | - | 8.50 | 8.00 | - | 8.50 | ... | ||
| Chicago | 403 | 8.25 | - | 9.00 | 8.00 | - | 8.50 | 5.50 | - | 6.00 |
| Kansas City | 99 | ... | ... | [9]7.00 | - | 8.00 | ||||
| Prices f. o. b. Shipping Points. | ||||||||||
| POTATOES (100 lbs. sacked). | ||||||||||
| Rochester, N. Y. | $1.75 | $2.00 | ... | |||||||
| Presque Isle, Me. | [7]$1.26 | - | 1.41 | [7]1.46 | - | 1.52 | [7]$1.30 | - | $1.35 | |
| Grand Rapids, Mich. | 1.75 | - | 1.80 | 1.95 | - | 2.10 | 2.00 | |||
| Waupaca, Wis. | 1.60 | - | 1.90 | 1.95 | 1.80 | - | 1.85 | |||
| Minneapolis, Minn. | 1.65 | - | 1.85 | 1.70 | - | 1.95 | 1.75 | - | 1.90 | |
| Alliance, Nebr. | 1.80 | 1.70 | - | 1.95 | 1.50 | |||||
| Idaho Falls, Idaho | 1.10 | 1.35 | [10]1.10 | - | 1.15 | |||||
| Greeley, Colo. | [10]1.15 | - | 1.25 | [10]1.40 | [10]1.10 | - | 1.15 | |||
| CABBAGE (ton bulk). | ||||||||||
| Rochester, N. Y. | 30.00 | 32.00 | - | 35.00 | 10.00 | |||||
| ONIONS (100 lbs. sacked). | ||||||||||
| Massachusetts Points | 3.50 | 3.50 | - | 3.75 | 1.40 | - | 1.60 | |||
| APPLES. | ||||||||||
| Barreled: | ||||||||||
| Rochester, N. Y. | 6.25 | 6.00 | 3.50 | - | 4.00 | |||||
| Boxed: | ||||||||||
| Spokane, Wash. | 2.00 | - | 2.15 | 2.25 | 2.00 | - | 2.35 | |||
[1] Maine Irish Cobblers.
[2] Maine Irish Cobblers, bulk 100 lbs.
[3] Carlot sales.
[4] Minnesota Red River Ohios.
[5] Tennessee Nancy Halls.
[6] Red varieties.
[7] Bulk 100 lbs.
[8] Danish type.
[9] Missouri Jonathans.
[10] Wagonloads, cash to growers.
OTHER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
New York and Michigan Concord grapes in 12-qt. climax baskets declined 10¢ to 25¢ in New York and Boston, ranging 75¢ to $1.10, and closed lower in Chicago at $1 to $1.25. Niagaras were weak in New York at 75¢ to 85¢. New York cauliflower was slow and dull in Philadelphia at $1.75 per crate, and ranged $2 to $2.25 in other markets. Michigan Golden Heart celery in highball crates was slow and steady in Chicago and St. Louis at $1 to $1.25 and ranged $1.75 to $2 in Pittsburgh. Massachusetts cranberries were steady in Boston at $5 to $6 per 1⁄2-barrel crate, and at $6.25 to $6.50 in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. New York Bartlett pears ranged $3.25 to $3.50 per bushel basket in leading markets.
Northern Maine Has Large Potato Crop.
The potato crop in Aroostook Co., Me., promises to be the largest ever produced in northern Maine. Early plantings were damaged somewhat by dry weather, but the later plantings have developed fully, and the stock has become overgrown in many cases. The yield of Irish Cobblers will average 120 to 150 bbls. to the acre, with some yields as high as 200 bbls.
With a probable demand from a wide territory there is much local confidence in the outcome of the marketing season, especially after the first of the year. During the rise in the market the first week of September large quantities of potatoes were sold on a basis of $3 per bbl. to the grower, but many of these shipments were marketed at a loss. Large quantities of potatoes are being stored because of the generally low price level. Much of the stock that is being sold is that for which storage space can not be obtained or which must be sold for financial reasons. The growers generally feel that they should have $1.75 per 100 lbs. bulk.
The first heavy frost of the season came Sept. 21, and digging of all varieties will be pushed from now on. Shipments will continue moderately heavy and would undoubtedly become very heavy with stronger market conditions.
Top price of the season in New York was $1,150 per car. The general range in June in New York was $450 to $900 and in July $250 to $550. No sales of medium sizes were reported in Philadelphia above $900 and prevailing ranges during June were $400 to $700, but declines to a range of $250 to $500 occurred in July. Sales in Boston ranged nearly as high as in New York, allowing 1,000 melons per carload. Early quotations in Boston ranged 60¢ to $1.10 per melon, but price declined in July to a range of 30 to 65¢. Pittsburgh carlot sales ranged $500 to $1,025 in May and June and $250 to $500 in July. Chicago market quoted a top of $1,100 the last of May, but prevailing early ranges were $500 to $800 and July sales $200 to $600.
Correction.
In the table “Carlot shipments of cantaloupes” on page 217 of the The Market Reporter for Oct. 1. the last column should be headed “To Sept. 17, 1920,” and the next to last column headed “To Sept. 17, 1921.”