THE CUBA REVIEW And Bulletin. 27 



CUBAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



Heavy Receipts of Pineapples in the New York Market Which are of Fine Quality 

 and Selling at High Prices — Season Over for Vegetables. 



Specially written for The CUBA REVIEW by Urner-Bai-ry Company, Xew York. 



Cuban pineapples have arrived very freely in the New York market during the 

 past month or more, and while the fruit has averaged smaller in size than usual, owing 

 to weather conditions in Cuba during the growing period, the quality has been very 

 fine and stock has met an active and firm market at very satisfactory prices. During 

 the month of May the receipts from Havana were 237,000 crates, and it is probable 

 that arrivals from all other points did not exceed 15,000 crates, of which 1,000 were 

 from JMayaguez and 5,200 from San Juan. It will be seen, therefore, that Cuban 

 have had full sway in the market and it is thought most of the crop will be marketed 

 before heavy receipts from Florida appear. 



The quality has not only been all that could be desired, but the fruit has arrived 

 in better condition than ever before. Perhaps the cool weather has had a favorable 

 influence toward allowing the stock to reach the market in good shape, as also has 

 the improved method of packing with joists on the steamers, whereby better ventilation 

 has been obtained. 



Formerly a good many pineapples arrived in bulk, but from the standpoint of 

 this market that is an undesirable way to ship them, and during the past two or three 

 seasons crates have been almost universally used. However, an occasional lot arrives 

 loose, the steamer Jamaica bringing 5,000 in bulk from Nipe Bay early this week, and 

 also 700 crates. The steamer Matanza, also in the first of this week, had 31,000 crates, 

 and of this cargo 11,809 crates were sold at auction on Tuesday as follows; 

 39 crates, 24 size, at $3.20 @ $3.80 



Prices during the last few weeks have not shown much fluctuation, and the above 

 gives a fair idea of rates prevailing at the close, as well as showing how small in 

 size the pines are running. It will be noticed there are very few larger than 30s. and 

 none in above sale larger than 24 size, whereas the bulk of the fruit is of 42 and 

 48 size. The Havana pines are so well packed and graded that they command about 

 as much as Florida, but stock from Cuban points other than Havana average lower, as 

 they are usually not as carefully graded and consequently do not carry as well in 

 transit, because of bruising by shaking in crates. Perfectly sorted fruit of the various 

 sizes will fit the crate so snugly that the jar incident to the long distance shipped 

 will have no depreciating effect. 



It may be of interest to state that when the fruit reaches this market most of it 

 is sold at auction. The stock is unloaded on the docks and sorted according to 

 grade and mark, after which samples are sent to one or both of the two large auction 

 houses here, where buyers congregate and sales are held almost daily, these being 

 advertised in the local papers so that buyers know at just what time pineapples and 

 other articles will commence to be sold. Some stock is carted from the docks to 

 the stores of the commission merchants and sold to jobbers and other buyers, but 

 probably over three-quarters of the Cuban pines are disposed of through the auction 

 houses. With Florida pines a much greater percentage is sold directly from dock 

 received or from stores, the smallest half going to the auction rooms. 



Vegetables are nearly all sold from store or from dock at which steamer arrives, 

 very rarely anything being sent to the auction houses. The season is now practically 

 over for Cuban vegetables. A few packages are still being received by each 

 steamer, but as a rule quality is uncertain, which is natural to the late season, as stock 

 seems to lack keeping properties and does not arrive in as good condition as earlier 

 in the season. Then again the market is so liberally supplied with vegetables of 

 nearly all kinds from near by southern sections that stock from far distant points 

 such as Cuba is under neglect, except at such low prices that shipments are not 

 profitable. Most Cuban vegetable shippers sending stock to New York have had a 

 profitable season, and the outlook for future seasons is most promising. Each season 

 shows marked improvement as regards quality, grading and packing, and it is evident 

 shippers realize the financial benefits to be obtained by paying close attention to the 

 small details. One item which we have not touched on in previous articles and which 

 at least some shippers do not give sufficient attention to is the package. Only strong 



