THE CUBA REVIEW. si 



Cuban Fruits and Vegetables. 



Specially written for the Cuba Review by Urner-Barry Company. 



THE fall crop of Cuban pines is now arriving, but the supply is much lighter than 

 usual, and the market less satisfactory than in some previous years, especially 

 last year. This is probably due to the liberal supply of Florida pineapples 

 arriving, together with the fact that the New York market is very liberally 

 supplied with fruits and vegetables, and prices generally rule low. Nearly all the 

 pines arriving from Cuba are of the Red Spanish variety, Cubans apparently giving 

 little attention to Abbakas, Smooth Cayennes, or Porto Ricos, these varieties doubtless 

 requiring more attention and carrying less favorably in transit, so that the Red Spanish 

 is considered the best kind to develop. Some Sugar pines are raised in Cuba, but they 

 are usually consumed in home markets except in midi^'^ammer, when some stock usually 

 finds an outlet on this market. Recent sales have been from $2.25 and $2.50 for choice 

 sound 24s, with prices ranging down according to the size, as low as 90 cents and $1.00 

 per crate for 42s. The smaller sized pines usually receive little attention on this market, 

 buyers rarely caring for fruit grading more than 36 to the crate, and 42s and 48s are 

 usually neglected, and do not command sufficient to warrant shipment from Cuba, except 

 in rare cases, when market is very short of stock. 



SORT PINEAPPLES WITH CARE. 



Cuban oranges and grape-fruit have been in light supply and selling rather low 

 not showing sufficient care in packing. The pines should be sorted carefully according 

 to size, 18, 24, 36 or 42 to the crate, and if the fruit is of uniform size, it will fit 

 the crate snug enough to prevent shaking and bruising while in transit. 



Cuban oranges and grape-fruit have been in light supply and selling rather low 

 owing to the large quantity of Florida fruit arriving. Late sales of Florida oranges 

 have been largely in range of $1.75 and $2.25 per box for lines of mixed sizes, though 

 selected sizes of strictly fancy have realized more, up to $3.00 and in instances higher. 

 Florida grape-fruit has sold generally from $2.00 and $3.00 per box, fancy up to $3.50 

 and $4.00, and poor stock lower. Cuban oranges and grape-fruit usually average slightly 

 under Florida, but just at present few are arriving and advices indicate that stock is 

 being placed to better advantage in home markets. 



CUBAN VEGETABLES SHOULD BE SHIPPED NOW. 



There are no Cuban vegetables arriving just now, and while small shipments will 

 doubtless appear latter part of this month and next month, the season vAW not really 

 open until about January i. Many kinds of vegetables are in very limited supply in New 

 York at present and receivers of Cuban products have calls from dealers daily relative 

 to Cuban tomatoes, peppers, etc., and if these vegetables could be shipped here now very 

 satisfactory prices could be realized, especially for tomatoes and peppers. 



So many articles have been written on growing and cultivating vegetables in Cuba 

 that it is somewhat difficult to understand why the natives do not take hold with more 

 energy and develop the business to a greater extent. As it is now, most of the fruit 

 and vegetables exported from Cuba are grown and shipped by Americans or persons 

 other than native Cubans. 



VEGETABLES FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE SHIPPING HERE. 



As a matter of interest and with a view of giving Cubans an idea of the varieties of 

 vegetables arriving in New York from far distant points, we herewith mention the vege- 

 tables now arriving from Europe and other than local sections : 



Asparagus is in very limited supply from France and Belgium, and extremely high 

 prices are being realized, French asparagus of white' variety selling up to $7.00 and 

 $8.00 per bunch, in rare instances higher, though smaller bunches of green from Belgium 

 sell down to $1.00. A shipment of carrots arrived this week from Rotterdam. Chicory 

 and escarol are coming in freely from New Orleans, but prices are so high that stock 

 from both France and Belgium is arriving and selling at satisfactory figures. Horse- 

 radish often arrives from various European sections and usually sells in the neighborhood 

 of 5 cents per pound. Endive from Belgium is seHing at 12 and 15 cents per pound, 



