LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 4

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

SHARP FALL IN EGGS

OVER-SUPPLY OF APPLES

Despite the exceptionally large exports of apples lan season, there appears to be no dearth of local supplies. The host fruit is now coming from cool store, but there are still quantities of under-grade lines being brought to the auctions, and these are almost unsaleable. Pears are in fair supply, and bring good prices. Recent sale prices have been:— Apple?. —Delicious, 0/ to 10/ per ease: Winesaps, 8/ to 10/; Ballarats, 0/ to 7/i Munro, 4/0 to 6/; Pride of Australia, 4/6 to 5/6; American Uorn, 3/ to 4/; Doherty, 4/6 to G/, small 3/ to 3/6; Stunner, 5/6 to 7/6; Pigeonette, : 7/6 to 8/0. Pears.—Coles, 10/ to 11/; Winter Xelis, 10/ to 12/6; Josephine, 9/ to 10/; Vicar, 8/ to 9/. Tree tomatoes, 0/ to 12/ per case; hothouse tomatoes, 4d to Sd per lb; passion fruit, 10/ to 16/ per "ase, lemons, 8/ to 15/; repacked Island oranges, 14/6 to 17/; Poorman oranges. 5/ to 8/6; repacked bananas, 20/ to 24/; Sydney Fruit.—Navel oranges, 16/ to 19/ per case; mandarins, 14/ to 21/: pineapples 13/ to IS/: common oranges, 12/6 to 14/. Vegetables In Fair Supply. During the past week the market has been well supplied witb a variety of vegetables in quantities suited to local requirements. Prices realised have been as follow: — Potatoes, 8/ to S/3 per cwt; onions (local) 2d to 2Jd per lb, Southern 15/ to 17/6 per cwt; kumaras, 2d to 2}d per lb; cabbages, 7/6 to 8/6 per sack; for choice; others, 2/6 to 4/3; cauliflowers, choice, 10/6 to 12/6 per sack; others, 4/ to 6/; pumpkins, 7/ to 12/6 ' per cwt; leeks, 4d to 6d per bundle; rhubarb, 4/6 to 5/ per dozen bundles; celery, first grade, 3/ to 3/9 per bundle; others, 1/ to 2/6; lettuce, 1/ to 3/C per ca=e; carrots, beet, parsnips and turnips, 6d to 1/ per dozen. Fish More Plentiful. Fresh fish has been more plentiful this week, and an excellent variety has been offering in the shops. Oysters, which had been rather small, are improv ing in size A fair supply of piper has been on sale at 1/3 per dozen. Speaking generally, the demand has been good. Retail prices are:—Fresh fillets, schnapper, terakihi, and trevalli, 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb; kingfish, 10d per lb; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; lemon fish, 8d per lb; gurnard, creamfish and mussels, 2/ per dozen; fresh schnapper and crevalli, 6d to Sd each; mullet, 9d ■ to 1/6; hapuka and kingfish, 1/ per lb; flounder 4d to 1/6. Smoked fish: Schnapper, 10d per lb; mullet, 10d; trevalli, M; kippers, 9d per pair; silver strip, Sd per lb; crayfish, 10d to 1/ per lb; rabbits, lOd to 1/ each.

Drop la Eggs. The market for eggs is overstocked at the moment, and auction returns show another drop. At the marts full-sized hen eggs have been selling at 1/11 to 2/ per dozen, intermediate 1/SJ to 1/9s, pullets 1/6 to 1/7 A, duck eggs 1/10 tj 1/11. The retail price of eggs to-day was as follows:—Hen, 2/3 to 2/4 per dozen; pullets', 2/2; duck, 2/2. In the case of hen eggs, this shows a reduction of about 1/ a dozen during the past fortnight, and from the point of view of the consumer it may be suggested that it is too good to last. Quite Likely a reaction may take place. The wholesale price of eggs at Dunedin dropped this morning to 1/9 a dozen. The retail price will be 2/, which is the lowest price at this time of the year for many a day. Butter and Cheese. Farmers' butter in the pats has been realising at auction from 1/3 to \/i per lb. Retail rates to-day are:—Farmers' make, 1/5 to 1/6 per lb; superfine factory, 1/9 per lb, cash across the counter; first grade, 1/8; second grade, 1/0. Cheese, 1/2 to 1/4 per lb, and 1/G for extra choice matured brands. Bacon and Hams. Bacon in cuts is selling at 9Jd to 1/5 per lb, in rashers 1/4 to 1/6. Whoie hams retail are quoted 1/4 to 1/5 per lb, and rashers 1/9 to 1/10. Poultry. At the auction marts to-day there was only a moderate entry and prices were a shade higher. Selling rates were: Prime heavy young cockerels, 0/ to 7/ each; lighter, 4/6 to 5/6; roosters, 2/ to 3/0; heavy hens, 5/6 to 6/0; Lighter, 3/ to 3/0; prime ducks, 3/0 to 4/1; pullets, 4/8 to 6/6; guinea fowls, 6/10.