LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1926, Page 4

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

FRESH FISH SCARCE,

ONIONS MOUNTING IN PRICE

Despite unfavourable weather fair quantities of apples are still coming to the auction marts from local orchardists. Supplies of other fruit have been plentiful and selling rates have been as follow: — Apples.—Delicious, ex-cooler, 9/ to 11/0 per case, others 5/ to 8/; Jonathan, 6/ to 8/; Munro, 4/6 to 0/; Ballarat, 0/ to G/6; Pride of Australia, 4/6 to .5/6; Stunner, 5/6 to 7/0; Doherty, 4/ to 7/. Pears. —Winter Nelis and Coles, 10/ to 12/(5: P. Barrie, 7/6 to 9/6; Cookers, 8/ to 9/. Poorman oranges, 4/ to 9/; local lemons, 6/ to 12/6; hothouse tomatoes, 7d to 1/ per lb; outdoor, 3/ to 9/ per case; hothouse grapes, 2/6 to 3/ per lb; Sydney, 30/ per case; pineapples, 12/ to 18/; mandarins, 16/ to 21/; local passion fruit, S/ to 14/; Island oranges, repacks, Aitutaki, 14/ per case, Rarotonga, 11/ to 11/9; bananas, repacks, 20/ to 24/, originals, 9/ to 15/. Vegetables. Southern potatoes have firmed slightly and have sold from 8/ to 8/9 per cwt. Choice onions are dear, realising from 16/6 to 18/6 per cwt, with southern bringing from 14/ to 15/6. There have been very heavy supplies of pumpkins. Mototapu and best Crown have realised from 8/ to 11/6 per cwt; others hard to quit. Other sales have been: —Swedes, 3/ to 4/6 per cwt; cabbages, 3/ to 10/ per sack: cauliflowers, 3/ to 12/; kumaras, l£d to 15d per lb; lettuce, 2/ to 5/ per case; citron melons, 9/ to 12/ per cwt; rhubarb, 3/9 to 5/ per dozen; celery, 1/ to 3/6 per bundle; leeks, 4d to 6d per bundle: carrots, beet, parsnips and turnips, (id to 1/ per dozen. Fish. The heavy weather which prevailed until a few days ago made it very difficult for shopkeepers to obtain sufficient supplies. Oysters have been in keen demand and the quantity available has l>een considerably short of requirements. Most lines of fresh fish have been scarce, particularly ilounder. A few crayfish are again in the shops. Prices arc unaltered, but when flounders become available higher prices will probably be asked owing to their scarcity. Retail prices are: Fresh fillets, sc-hnapper, terakihi, and trevalli, 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb; kingfish, lOd petlb; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; lemon fish, Sd per lb; gurnard, creamfish and mussels, 2/ per dozen; piper, 1/3 per dozen; fresh schnapper and trevalli, Cd to 8d each; mullet, 9d to 1/0; hapuka and kingfish, 1/ per lb; flounder. 4d to 1/6. Smoked fish: Schnapper, lOd per lb; mullet. lOd; trevalli, 9rl; kippers, 9d per pair: silver strip, Sd per lb: crayfish. lOd to 1/ per lb: rabbits, 1/ each. Eggs Not So Scarce. F.g2s have been slightly more plentiful at the auction marts this week, and the price has eased accordingly. Current quotations are: —Hen eggs, full size, 3/2 to 3/3 per dozen; intermediate size, 2/11 to 3/; pullets', 2/7 to 2/9; duck, 2/8 to 2/91. The retail price of eggs to-day was 3/0 per dozen for fresh hen eggs, iiiul 3/2 for duck eggs. Farmers' Butter Scarcer. Farmers' butter in lib pats has been bringing 1/3 to 1/5 at auction. The retail price to-day was 1/5 to 1/7 per lb. Superfine factory is quoted 1/9 per lb in pats, cash across tlie counter; first •n-ade, 1/8; and second grade, 1/7. ° Cheese still sells at 1/2 to 1/4, and an extra 2d per lb for extra choice matured. Bacon and Hams. Both lines arc selling well. Whole hams are quoted retail 1/4 to 1/3 per lb, and rashers 1/9 to 1/10; bacon in cuts is 9.U1 to l/o per lb, and rashers 1/4 to 1/6." » Poultry. At to-day's auction sales there was a fair entry and a keen demand for best table poultry. Quotations were: Prime heavy cockerels, 6/ to 7/; lighter, 4/ to 5/0; "roosters, 2/6 to 4/; hens, heavy, 4/0 to 5/3; light. 2/9 to 3/3; ducks, prime, 4/6 to 4/10; light, 3/ to 3/6; turkeys (gobblers), 10/ to 12/; hens, 7/ to'B/; pullets (about to lay), 7/ to 7/0; smaller, 4/ to 0/.