46 University of New Hampshire [Sta. Bull. 321 



Supplies 



The most common complaint of hotels and camps regarding small 

 fruit supplies is that of lack of dependability. 



We usually think of the local strawberry season as lasting about 

 three weeks. The sales period of a western New Hampshire grower 

 over 30 seasons varied from 15-42 days. Ten seasons ran from two 

 to four weeks, and nine others ran from five to six weeks. This in- 

 dicates that a longer period is possible. 



N'ariation in the ripening dates of strawberries in different sec- 

 tions of the state is sufficient to make possible shifts in supplies from 

 one sectit)n to anotlier if .surpluses should exist. Growers in late 

 locations and in northern Xew Hampshire might consider shipments 

 into the southern jxirt of the state as well as to markets in southern 

 New England and New York. 



A com])ination of early and late raspberry varieties will dehnitely 

 lengthen the supply period, and may give a sales period of six or 

 seven weeks. 



I)lue1)erries are tlie only berries shipped out of the state in any 

 quantity. There is a tendency for markets near producing areas to 

 be over-su])]:)lied. This is especially true since many blueberries are 

 ])icked by children and local people who place amounts too small to 

 shi]) on the local market. 



The majority of hotels, camps, and Ijoarding houses appeared to 

 be fairly well supplied with bluel)erries according to a 1937 survey. 



Grape supplies are insufficient to take care of local markets. In 

 the past five vears production estimates have varied from l-IO.OOO 

 to 240,00) pounds. 



Prices 



Strawberry growers have averaged al)out 15 cents a quart on job- 

 bing sales and 19 cents on retail sales over a five-year period ending 

 in 1939. Prices have averaged highest in central and western New 

 Hampshire. The average differential between grower jobbing and 

 retail prices for strawberries is about 4 cents a quart. 



-Mthough a few early sales of strawl^erries mav hv made at a 

 higher figure, late strawberry sales have brought higher average 

 prices than early sales because of less competition from other areas. 



Sullivan. Carroll. Coos, and Belknap counties had the highest av- 

 erage retail prices for strawberries in the 1937-1938 period, from 1.5 

 cents to 4.5 cents above the average for the state. 



.\verage retail ])rice ni rasjiberries rei)orted by growers and stores 

 for 1937 and 1938 was about 15 cents per ]unt. C.-irroll countv re- 

 ported the highest average i)rice. 



Average jol)bing ])rices for raspberries reporie<I by growers rang- 

 ed Iroiu about 11 cents to 16 cents and averaged over 12 cents per 

 ])int in the five-year period 1935-1939. 



I'jjackberries vary greatly in price and c|ualily. In 1938 retail 

 prices in the state averaged about 20 cents a cpiart and jobbing prices 

 15 cents. Average price i)aid by hotels was 16 cents, by camps and 

 tourist homes 19 cents, and by stores 15 cents per quart. 



