26 THE CUBA REVIEW. 



CUBAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



Specially written for The CUBA REVIEW by Urner-Barry Company, New York. 



The receipts of Cuban fruits and vegetables in New York of late have been 

 rather liberal, arrivals during the month of January exceeding 50,000 packages, 

 mostly from Havana. Of this stock there were about 12,500 boxes of oranges 

 and grape-fruit, probably 7,000 crates of pineapples, and, say, 32,000 packages of 

 vegetables, the latter including nearly 5,000 crates of onions, with the balance of 

 the vegetables largely tomatoes. 



The season has been most unsatisfactory this year, particularly for Cuban 

 vegetables, and prices have ruled low and disappointing to shippers. The financial 

 flurry and stringency in the money market last fall, while stated to be over and 

 •conditions normal, is still felt in the produce trade, and the' consumptive demand 

 is unusually light, particularly for all articles which may be considered luxuries. 

 The condition of the Cuban products received this year has been fully as good 

 .as any previous season, quality probably averaging better, as many shippers have 

 .given more care to method of packing and sorting, but notwithstanding this fact, 

 receivers have been unable to move the stock, except at extremely low prices. 

 This condition has not only prevailed with Cuban fruits and vegetables, but with 

 southern and all other articles in the produce line. 



Onions sold early in January as high as $2.75 @ $3, but und'er increasing 

 receipts prices have steadily fallen, until of late sales have been largely in range 

 •of $1.72 @ $2 per crate, and just at the close' the latter figure is becoming exceed- 

 ingly high, with most business at $1-75 @ $1.90. No other new onions are arriving, 

 -and these prices seem low in view of the moderate quantity arriving. 



Tomatoes have continued to come in freely, notwithstanding the low prices 

 ruling, and sales have made largely in range of $1 @ $1.75 per carrier, only an 

 occasional mark of very fine quality higher, and some of the poorest stock has 

 ■occasionally sold lower. Some of the best Florida tomatoes are selling at higher 

 prices, in instances up to $2 @ $2.50, but this premium is realized more on account 

 of reputation than actual quality, as the Cuban stock in many cases is fully as 

 •good as the Florida receipts, but many buyers _ show a preference' for the Florida, 

 probably having purchased Cuban at some period and had stock of wasty quality 

 or otherwise poor, and under these circumstances are unwilling to handle any but 

 Florida. This prejudice will take time to overcome. 



Eggplants are coming in freely from Cuba, and best stock is selling fairly 

 well at $1.50 @ 1.75 per box, rarely higher for fancy, but anything poor or which 

 "has to be repacked averages lower. 



Okra in moderate supply and when small and fancy $2 @ $2.25 per carrier is 

 •obtained, but much of the stock arriving is of undesirable variety, being large in 

 size and coarse, and such works out slowly at low figures, often down to $1.25 @ 

 ■$1.50, and lower. Peppers arriving quite freely, but demand! is limited, and $1 

 is seldom exceeded for average best, with anything below prime ranging lower. 



Lima beans, white squash and scattering lots of other varieties of vegetables 

 •arriving from Cuba, sell well when showing attractive qualit3^ but anything 

 poor receives little attention. Some few lots of Florida potatoes arriving, which 

 are selling at $5 @ $6 per barrel, and with Bermuda worth $5_@ $S-So per barrel, it 

 is evident that Cuban, if fancy, would sell at about those prices. 



Pineapples have been in fair supply, but demand light, and while strictly sound 

 have been salable at $2 @ $2.25 for 25 size, and $1.75 @ $2 for 30'S, the smaller 

 sized! pines have ranged lower, and anything wasty or poorly packed has had no 

 settled value, some sales making down to $1 per_ crate' and below. Very few pine- 

 apples arriving from Cuba except the Red Spanish variety. 



Oranges have met only a moderate demand, as market has been liberally sup- 

 plied with medium-grade oranges from other sections, and the Cuban fruit has not 

 "been much in favor, except at low prices. Tangerines and also grape-fruit and 

 •other similar fruits are salable at satisfactory prices when received in sound 

 ■condition. — New York, February 10, igo8. 



SUGAR IN JANUARY. 



Specially written for The CUBA REVIEW by Willett & Gray, of New York. 



January opened with centrifugals 96 test at .3.85c. per lb, duty paid in New 

 York, and at 2^c. cost and freight in Cuba. With a very much delayed crop 

 movement, which gave an immediate firmer tendency to the market, the spot 

 quotation advanced to 3.92c., and cost and freight sales at 2 9/16C. per lb. by the 

 6th of the month, to extent of 100,000 bags for February shipment. This proved 

 to be the highest point of the month. 



