The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curingEisen, Gustavus A.
History
The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curing
Eisen, Gustavus A.
Raisins; Viticulture -- California
It will be observed that the imports began to fall off in 1875, being
that year more than 13,000 boxes short of the preceding year. In 1876
the importations struggled back to 29,187, still being more than 6,000
boxes short of the importations of 1874; and then the battle was
practically won, for in the succeeding years the importations dwindled
away until in 1883 only 633 boxes were imported. The figures from 1886
to date are not obtainable, but are so insignificant as to be considered
unnecessary to record.
_1873._--In 1873 the market was liberally supplied with Malaga raisins,
which brought at wholesale the following prices: Layers, whole boxes,
$3.00 to $3.75; half boxes, $3.62½; quarters, $3.75; eighths, $4.00 to
$4.25; London layers, $4.50.
_1874._--Coming down to 1874, the Malaga still holds the fort, layers
bringing $3.25 for whole boxes, and $3.12½ for half boxes, with the
customary advance on fractions. In all this time the California raisin
was too insignificant for notice, and was not quoted by commercial
papers.
_1875._--On January 14, 1875, this significant comment appears in the
_Journal of Commerce_: “A decided change is being wrought in the markets
of this coast respecting the use of Malaga raisins, figs, Zante
currants, Hungarian prunes, almonds, walnuts, etc. In fact, from this
time forward Pacific Coast supplies of bunch raisins and dried fruits
generally are to be produced here in large quantities, and in favorable
seasons we will doubtless have a large surplus of almonds (hard, soft
and paper shells), English walnuts, chestnuts, hickory nuts, raisins,
figs, etc.”
On November 4, 1875, it was recorded that up to the 1st of November
there had been received 6,000 boxes of California raisins, “the quality
generally good,” worth from eight to ten cents per pound, say $2.00 and
$2.25 per box of twenty-two pounds net; London layers, $3.50 and $3.75.
_1876._--In January of 1876 Malagas were quoted at $3.25 and $3.50,
California raisins bringing ten and twelve and one-half cents per pound.
The following comment was made at that time, which may be considered as
another mile-stone in the progress of the California industry: “Malaga
raisins have been imported to very much less extent the present than
last season, owing to the large products of California cured, which
latter have amounted to upwards of 30,000 boxes, about one-half of which
have been of prime quality, suitable for table use, a portion being
poorly cured and considerably inferior to the imported, but have sold at
lower rates for ordinary cooking purposes.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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