42 



University of New Hampshire 



[Sta. Bull. 321 



Farmers' Produce Market in Boston 



Volume and prices of blueberries given in the Boston Farmers' 

 Produce Market reports of the ]\Iassachusetts Department of Agri- 

 culture are shown in Fig. 15. In 1939 and the two preceding five- 

 year periods, prices show a general downward trend. The season 

 started on the 28-33 cents level and ended at the 12-16 cents level. 



Cultivated Blueberries 



Supplies increasing 



Xew Jersey has been the jirinci- 

 pal source of cultivated blueberries 

 for this area. Even in 1935 and 1936 

 over 500.000 quarts of cultivated 

 blueberries were marketed from 

 Xew Jersey at average prices of 

 about 31 cents and 36 cents a quart 

 respectively. In 19 3 9 average 

 wholesale prices still exceeded 30 

 cents a quart in Boston. But more 

 cultivated berries are coming in 

 from other areas and it is probalile 

 that increased supplies will result 

 in lower prices in the future. The 

 high cost of establishing cultivated 

 blueberry plantings will make in- 

 fruits as strawberries, raspberries. 



Fig. 14. CI 



C leanmg low- 

 berries 



hush blue- 



creases slower than 

 and blackberries. 



with .sue 



h 



Premiums for Cultivated Blueberries in Boston 



Prices of Maine and Xew Hampshire ^vild blueberries were com- 

 pared with those for Xew Jerse\' cultivated berries in the period 

 from July 24 to August 5, 1939. Average top prices per quart for 

 bulk of sales of best berries were about 25 cents for wild Maine 

 berries. 21 cents for wild Xew Hampshire In-rries, and 3.^ cents for 

 cultivated Xew Jersey berries. 



This indicates an average i)remiuni nt" about 8 cents to 12 cents 

 ])er quart for the cultivated berries. 



In New York City 



Grower> who ctmtemplate setting the cultivated blueberry vari- 

 eties will be interested in the premium for such berries in our mar- 

 kets. Top j)rices of wild and cultivated varieties were compared ()n 

 the New York city market in July and August over the four years, 

 1936-1939. The cultivated blueberries came largely from New Jer- 

 sey in July and .\ugust with a few Michigan berries in August. 

 Wild berries came largely from Pennsylvania in the first half of 

 July, and from Nova Scotia. Maine, and Massachusetts in tlic last 

 half of July. 



