56
—Lancaster Farming. Saturday, March 15, 1975
Fruit Supply Outlook
Fruit supplies for the
remainder of the 1974-75
season are expected to total
substantially above a year
earlier, targe citrus sup*
plies continue to dominate
the fruit scene. A record U.S.
citrus crop of 14.2 million
tons is indicated for the 1974-
75 season in spite of recent
subfreezing temperatures in
California and Texas.
Yearend stocks of most
processed noncitrus
products are ample for
market needs. Cold storage
holdings of major fresh
deciduous fruits are also
larger than a year ago.
For the first time during
1974, the index of prices
received by growers for
fresh and processed fruit
declined during December to
levels below a year earlier.
The January 1975 index
increased slightly from
December 1974, but was still
3 percent below the same
month a year earlier. During
the first half of 1975 the index
is expected to advance
seasonally and will likely
average near year-earlier
levels.
Retail prices of fresh fruit
also have declined since last
fall, reflecting the seasonal
increase in fruit supplies,
LIQUID MANURE
EQUIPMENT
"BETTERBILT"
USED LIQUID TANK SPREADERS
I - Model 1400 Gal. BADGER Spreader
'\&U77FlSticlj
MILKERS
especially citrus, but con
tinued to average
moderately higher than a
year earlier. However, the
January 1975 BLS retail
price index for fresh fruit
advanced slightly from
December 1974. As
remaining supplies of fresh
fruit decline seasonally,
consumer prices are likely to
advance during the first half
of 1975 and average
moderately above the
comparable 1974 period.
The Nation’s orange crop
is now expected to total a
record 234 million boxes or
10.1 million tons. This output
is 8 percent above last
season and 4 percent above
1972-73. About three-fourths
or 174 million boxes will
come from Florida, which
expects a 5 percent larger
output. California’s
prospective orange crop at
50 million boxes would be the
largest since 1946-47. With a
large Navel crop this season,
the supply for fresh market
is expected to be adequate in
spite of the diversion of
freeze-damaged fruit to
processing. Arizona’s in
dicated production of 4.5
million boxes is 32 percent
above last season, while the
forecast for Texas as 5.1
YOUR NO. 1 STOP FOR
VACUUM SPREADERS
Model 800 gal.; 1100 gal.; 1500 gal.;,
2100 gal.; 3100 gal.
With Plow Down Attachments Available
Trailer Mounted Pumps
8-10-12 Ft.
3 point Hitch Mounted Pumps
Tank Spreaders
1250 gal. Tandem
1875 gal. Tandem
2500 gal. Tandem
3100 gal. Tandem
Plow Down Attachments Available
HUSKY 3100
SH EMITS
FARM SERVICE
RD4, Lititz, PA
million boxes is 23 percent
smaller.
On-tree grower returns for
all U.S. oranges in January
were 13 percent below a year
earlier. Large crop
prospects combined with
large carryover stocks of
most processed items will
keep downward pressure on
orange prices. Current
prospects for oranges
through early spring in
dicate grower prices will
continue below year-earlier
levels.
Prospective grapefruit
supplies at 58.8 million boxes
are 10 percent less than last
season. Florida’s crop, is
expected to total 43 million
boxes, 11 percent less than
last season, while the Texas
crop is 27 percent smaller.
Through mid-February, the
movement of fresh
grapefruit into domestic
marketing channels was
substantially ahead of last
year’s pace, while exports
and deliveries to processors
were lower. With smaller
remaining supplies available
and recently improved
export prospects, grower
prices will advance and
remain above year-earlier
levels.
Indicated lemon supplies
in California and Arizona are
a record 25.5 million boxes,
46 percent above last
season’s small harvest.
Total shipments of fresh
lemons through mid-
Husky
Ph. 626-1151
February were slightly
above last season. Sales-of
lemons for processing are up
sharply, reflecting the larger
crop. Grower returns for
fresh and processed lemons
have averaged sharply
below a year ago and are
expected to remain low
during the remainder of the
season.
Supplies of fresh apples
remaining in storage are G
percent above a year ago. So
far this winter, average U.S.
apple prices to growers have
been below year-earlier
levels, reflecting larger
supplies and slackening
processor demand.
However, later in the season
when most of the fresh ap
ples will come from
Washington State, prices are
expected to be slightly to
moderately higher than a
year ago.
In response to sub
stantially larger cold storage
holdings, shipping point
prices for fresh winter pears
have also been below year
earlier levels. Even though
these prices may advance
seasonally for the remainder
of the season, they are likely
to continue below year-ago
levels.
The 1974-75 pack of canned
noncitrus fruit will be con
siderably above last year’s
levels. Thus, even with a
substantially smaller
carryover, total supplies of
canned‘fruit for the 1974-75
marketing season are
considerably above those a
year earlier. Despite a
larger supply, canners’
selling prices have increased
as a result of higher costs for
raw materials, processing,
and marketing. The BLS
index of wholesale canned
fruit prices reached 170.4
(1967-100) in January 1975,
an increase of 26 percent
from a year ago. These
higher wholesale prices have
also been reflected at retail.
Storage holdings of frozen
"’’"BIG T V
ON ALL Km UNILOADERS
WE WILL TAKE OFF OUR REGULAR LOW PRICES
ON THE FOLLOWING MODELS:
1700's • $ 5OO OFF
1030 ■ $ 4OO OFF
1816 - $ 3OO OFF
THIS VALUABLE
OFFER IS GOOD
TILL MARCH 31,1975
imi The better way to get things done I
. BINKLEYS
A HURST BIOS.
Lititz RD4, PA
Phone: 626-4705
deciduous fruits and berries
on February 1 were sub
stantially above last season,
with increases recorded for
most items. Production of
dried -fruit for the 1974-75
season was moderately
below a year ago. However,
with a considerably larger
carryin at the beginning of
this season, supplies of dried
fruit are ample. F. 0.1?. prices
of both dried prunes and
raisins have been below
year-earlier levels reflecting
the larger supply and
lagging movement.
Disappearance has lagged
for many processed non
citrus items - particularly
canned and frozen - because
of generally higher prices
and a slowdown in economic
activity here and abroad. In
order to encourage an in
crease in the rate of
movement, processors have
offered promotion
allowances for many items
in recent weeks. Although
there has been some
weakening in prices, they
arc still substantially above
year-earlier levels.
A. L. HERR
& DM.
312 Park Ave.
Quarryville 786-3521