THE CUBA REVIEW And Bulletin. 25 



CUBAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 



Most Profitable Season for Cuban Vegetables Closes — Fruit Season Nearing a Close 



as far as New York Market is Concerned — Increased 



Acreage Expected Next Season, 



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



The New York market is so liberally supplied with vegetables from local sec- 

 tions that stock from far distant points will not command enough to realize a profit 

 and in consequence shipments to New York from Cuba have about stopped. Each 

 steamer is still bringing a few packages, mostly of peppers and okra, but even these 

 two vegetables are not commanding much money and it is doubtful if shippers were 

 warranted in sending the stock to the market. The season being over it will be of 

 interest to note that the arrivals this year have been in excess of any previous 

 season, and the satisfactory prices realized for most stock has caused the season to 

 be very satisfactory to both shippers and receivers. The marked improvement in 

 grading and packing has helped to maintain values, and many merchants have com- 

 menced to use Cuban products this season who have previously shown a preference 

 for Florida or other southern. The profitable prices realized will doubtless cause 

 an increased acreage in Cuba, and New Yo^rk dealers anticipate a still larger season 

 next year, should weather conditions be at all favorable. Many of the New York 

 commission merchants have much capital invested in southern sections, not only 

 supplying shippers in some parts of the country with seed, but other capital, and 

 these merchants thereby control shipments from many important growing sections. 

 Merchants who do business in this way are continually on the lookout for new 

 fields and more interest is shown in Cuba than most Cubans realize. It is not im- 

 probable that some of the large New York houses will establish large farms on the 

 Island, and already one or more of these New York people have traveled through 

 Cuba sizing up the conditions with that end in view. Increased shipments would 

 mean increased and improved transportation facilities, and taking everything into 

 consideration the future seems very bright, and it looks as if it was only a question 

 of time when all the large northern markets would be liberally supplied with Cuban 

 products throughout the entire growing season. 



Pineapples are still coming in freely from Cuba and while Florida have also been 

 in liberal supply, receipts from these twQ states combined have barely been 

 sufficient for the demand and prices have been steadily climbing upward for some 

 weeks past. Throughout most of the season the Cuban pineapples have had a 

 preference over Florida and have averaged higher in price, which should be very 

 gratifying to Cuban shippers, and is an example of what can be done by education 

 along the lines of grading and packing. Just at present many of the Cuban pines 

 are arriving a little over ripe and wasty, and so many shippers have now turned to 

 Florida, regardless of the less favorable sorting and grading, that the Cuban are 

 averaging slightly under Florida in price. The present market is from $2 @ $4 per 

 crate for Cuban, according to size, whereas the Florida are selling from $2.25 @ 

 $4.50, and the outlook for continued high prices is very favorable for the balance of 

 the season, though stock should be graded even more carefully than early in the 

 season, with the ripest pines held back for a nearer market. 



New York, July 3, 1907. 



' SUGAR IN JUNE. 



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



This month proved disappointing in its weather conditions and 1907 will long 

 be noted as the year without any Spring. Cold and backward in all respects, it 

 gave little encouragement to buyers of refined sugars ; nevertheless the month was 

 not a bad one on the whole for the raw sugar producer as the close is about as 

 high as the beginning. 



The month opened with 06 test Centrifugals at basis of 3.90c. per lb. and beet 

 sugar at los. per cwt. f. o. b. Hamburg. 



A combination of unfavorable weather and a strike of dock laborers kept buyers 

 out of the market and prices fell to 3.70c. per lb. about the middle of the month. 

 This proved the low point of the reaction and the recovery during the latter part 

 of the month restored prices at the close to basis of 3.875c. per lb. for q6 test, 

 but not held strongly at this figure. 



Futures fc shipment from Cuba participated in the decline going from 2 9/16C. 

 per lb. c. and f. for 95 test basis to 2 7/i6c. c. and f.. recovering to' 2I/2C. at the close. 



Beet sugar in Europe declined from los. to 9s. 8d. and recovered to 9s. gd., but 

 closina: barelv steady. 



The visible crop of Cuba continued to exceed all expectations showing the fal- 

 lacy of estimates, derived from current conditions which constantly change. It is 

 evident that Cuba is now in condition to produce maximum crops of sugar right 

 along and the most important proposition facing the planter is how to obtain the 



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