30 • THECUBAREVIEW. 



CUBAN PRODUCE IN NEW YORK. 



Arrivals During January Almost Double Quantity Received the Previous Month- 

 Cuban Tcmatoes, Onions, Grape Fruit and Pineapples Most 

 Prominent in the Receipts — Higher Prices Prevailing. 



Especially written for THI-: CUBA REVIEW by the Lrner-Barry Co., New York.) 



The receipts of Cuban fruit and vegetables in New York during the month of 

 January have increased materially, amounting to 37,481 packages, as compared 

 with 19.062 packuges during the month of December. The January arrivals were 

 divicied as follows: 26,421 crates tomatoes, 3,073 crates onions, 4,538 crates other 

 vegetable.'^, 120 boxes oranges, 141 boxes tangerines, 1,546 boxes grape fruit, 16 

 boxes lemons and 1,626 crates pineapples. These amounts are taken from the 

 published manifests and nre thought to be below the actual quantity received in 

 this market, pr'.'bably due to some produce being shipped as merchandise. 



Cold weacher in Florida has checked shipments from many sections, and the 

 outlook for CuV.an vegetables of nearly all kinds is very favorable at the present 

 time. Very few Florida tomatoes arriving — not enough to be a factor of import- 

 ance in the market and except for a few hothouse, trade is being supplied with 

 Cuban. Eariy in January sales ranged from $1.25(a2, but by the middle of 

 tlie month $l(fi 1.50 prevailed though an advance of 50 cents was established before 

 the clt>se of tiie month. Many of the tomatoes have been of very irregular quality. 

 Stock bought in liavana bj- New York merchants as well as the stock shipped by 

 Havana merchants to N'cw York on commission has often included a considerable 

 number of marks sent to Havana by different growers, and some of this stock 

 has beer, sold here from sample as one mark of goods, causing dissatisfaction 

 among buyers. Shi])ment.~ made direct by growers have, in some cases, been of 

 exceptionally fin3 quality, showing great care in grading and selection as to size, 

 ripeness, etc., and .'-ome of this stock has realized a substantial premium over the 

 general market. On the oiher hand some marks have shown lack of education in 

 packing and grading, and have sold very low, scattering sales during the month 

 making down to 50 v^cnts and 60 cents per crate. At day of writing still further 

 improvement in price has developed and sales now making largely at $2(^2.25 for 

 fancy and .$1.50^1.75 for choice, rarely higher for exceptional quality. 



The local demand for Cuban new onions continues of very small proportion. 

 as trade prefer the domestic old onions which are still of very good quality. The 

 increased receipts, however, have been wanted by out-of-town merchants, some far 

 distant cities being able to use them to advantage, and the market has been sus- 

 tained at $2.25(5,2.40 per crate. At times, the inside figure has been hard to exceed, 

 but at the close most sales are at $2.40. 



Other Cub.^n vegetables have been in limited supply and have generally sold 

 promptly whcii showing good quality. Choice small Cuban okra would command 

 .$8'g9 per carrier, but the large, coarse kinds range lower, down to $3@6, as to style 

 and appearance. Florida peppers have been in much lighter supply and Cuban 

 have had more attention v.-ith prices steadily advancing. Sales have been from 

 $1.50<fr2.50. latterly mainly $2@2.50, and really fancy would bring a little more. 

 Cuban eggplants have steadily advanced until $4@5 per box could now be realized 

 for fancy large, showing good bright color; many have been too small and poor, 

 however, to exceed S2(g 3. Squash, cucumbers and other varieties of vegetables 

 have been in such small supply that no settled values have prevailed. 



Cuban giape fruit iias been quite plentiful and there have been small lots of 

 oranges, tangerines and lemons. The grape fruit has sold up to $2@3 for average 

 best, rarely a little higher, but common grape fruit has been under neglect, and 

 only salable to cheap buyers at bargain prices. One lot of 65 boxes sold early in 

 January at auction at S7ic.(a,$1.12i per box. \ few days later 90 boxes sold from 

 87i cents for poorest up to $2.25@2.50 for best fruit. Few Cuban oranges arrived 

 in January, but so far this month there have been larger supplies. The market 

 ha=; been liberalij* supplied with ordinary and poor oranges from Florida, California 

 and Porto Rico and tbe Cuban fruit has sold low. Some sales at auction at $1.35 

 per box for srzes 112, 126, 150 and 176. with 200 and 216 sizes at $1.20. From 

 store more money has been obtained for fine stock, but no receipts have been really 

 fancy. Cuban tangerines have met a very good outlet at 95c.@$1.55 per half box, 

 according to s'7.e and quality of the stock. Some few sales have made higher. 



