Previously these fresh fruits were marketed in the locality in which they were grown or they were shipped in single cars by express to eastern markets; but in the last few years the development of the berry industry has been so rapid in the Northwest that additional outlets had to be found. The special train service which has been inaugurated is meeting this situation very successfully. Berries of various kinds are arriving daily in Chicago from the White Salmon, Yakima, Puyallup, and Walla Walla valleys, from Vashon Island, Puget Sound, and from Lewiston, Idaho.
In the production centers the berries are rushed by motor truck and interurban car to the refrigerator cars on the railroad sidings every afternoon. The cars are loaded, iced, and hurried on passenger schedule to Spokane where they are united into a special fruit train. Early in the morning the train pulls out from Spokane for the East. These trains are iced five times between the Pacific coast and Chicago and make no other stops. Recently train loads of red raspberries have been arriving in Chicago every day. Loganberries also have been abundant, but the larger part of the supply has been raspberries. Arrivals were at the rate of two cars per day during the latter part of July.
Most shipments have carried through in fine condition, with only a few packages showing decay or mold. The berries are all packed in 24–pt. crates which are only a single layer deep, instead of three layers deep as are the Michigan red raspberries. The quality of the raspberries has been fine, the berries being large and of a desirable red color. A few black raspberries, blackberries, and red currants have also come from the Northwest, but only as parts of cars. These have likewise been attractively packed and were of good quality, having shown but little decay.
| CARLOAD SHIPMENTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commodity. | Week ending July 29. | Same week last season. | Previous week this season. | This season to July 29. | Last season to July 29. | Total last season. |
| Apples | 521 | 542 | 639 | 3,091 | 1,176 | 88,544 |
| Cabbage | 151 | 161 | 126 | 17,208 | 12,843 | 31,222 |
| Cantaloupes | 1,801 | 1,704 | 1,830 | 19,268 | 16,868 | 25,572 |
| Celery | 55 | 35 | 65 | 5,030 | 4,344 | 11,642 |
| Grapes | 108 | 167 | 62 | 207 | 337 | 37,203 |
| Lettuce | 302 | 334 | 329 | 16,926 | 14,385 | 18,300 |
| Onion | 323 | 423 | 388 | 7,597 | 6,669 | 20,784 |
| Peaches | 2,101 | 1,600 | 1,771 | 10,813 | 14,353 | 27,222 |
| Pears | 648 | 612 | 455 | 1,216 | 1,367 | 12,823 |
| Potatoes: | ||||||
| Sweet | 139 | 135 | 84 | 347 | 165 | 19,266 |
| White | 3,873 | 3,604 | 4,147 | 46,672 | 39,081 | 238,138 |
| Tomatoes | 230 | 339 | 498 | 17,846 | 11,883 | 17,204 |
| Vegetables, mixed | 626 | 427 | 663 | 11,013 | 9,346 | 15,566 |
| Watermelons | 3,653 | 5,377 | 3,184 | 34,596 | 31,106 | 46,463 |
| Total | 14,531 | 15,460 | 14,241 | 191,830 | 163,923 | 609,949 |
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.