LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 245, 15 October 1926, Page 4

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

ABUNDANCE OF LETTUCE. AT 1 6 A CASE. \KW I'nTATUKS 2d TO :'d. I'll- chief feature of the auction marts dirin__ the present week has been ilie nil! supplier of vegetables which have overtaken the demand, and lower prices ii.ive accordingly ruled. I .arse bulky c.im"* oi 1. ttiue have been going as low :i- 1/6. Sinne nf last season's line*, such ;im pumpkins, are now off the market, i'it in their place new season's produce is coming forward in increasing variety and quantity. Cabbages and cauliflowers o: choicest quality are now available and new potatoes are improving daily in size and llavour. "•oiling prices during the w.-ck have been:—Southern 'Hjtatoes, 7/ per ewt; new potatoes, lirst grade, -d to .">d per li;: second. Id: Canadian onions. 19/ per crate; swedes. 7/ per cwt: island kumaras, 11/6 per cwt: green peas, (id to !i(fc per lb; cabbages, choice, 8/ to 10/ per sack, others 4/ to li/; cauliflowers, best. (1/ to 7,'. others. 2/ to 3/; oil' the lieneli—cabbages. 1 to 2/0 per dozen; cauliflowers, choice, 5/ per dozen: lettuce. 1/0 per case; asparagus, Sd to lOd per bundle: leeks. :!d to lid per bundle: rhubarb. 2/ to 2/ti per do/en bundles; hothouse cucumbers, 7d to 10/ per dozen; spring onions, Id to 3d per bundle: carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips. Ud to I/O per dozen lots. Canadian Apples Arrive. File chief feature of the fruit section at the marts has been the arrival of Canadian apples. These have opened up in perfect condition and have realised from 14/ to lti/ per case. Prices of local apples have been as follow: — Delicious, 5/ to !)/ per ease: Munro, 4/ to G/6; Uoherty, 4/ to li/; Stunner, (1/6 to S/6; Rome Beauty, _/ to ./; Pride of Australia, 4/(3 to 0/0. Pears: Winter Xelis. 8 lo 14/; P. Karri, ti/ to 8/6. The Sydney shipment opened up in lair condition, and oranges brought from 15/ to 18/ per case; loquats, 10/ to 14/; and passion fruit, 18/ to 20/. Other selling prices have been:—Hothouse tomatoes, 1/ to 1/3 per lb; Cook Island tomatoes, 7/li to 11/ per case; repacked Island oranges, 22/6; repacked bananas, 22/ to 24/; local passion fruit. 10/ to 12/: Fiji pines, 10/ to 12.'. Greymouth Whitebait. Local whitebait has not been available during the past few days owing •to the flooded condition of the rivers, but fair supplies have been coming to hand from Greymouth. There has been a. good supply of fresh fish during the week, including flounders and other popular varieties. A few rabbits have come forward, but not nearly enough to meet the demand. Retail prices:—Fresh fillets, schnapper, terakihi and trevalli, 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb: kingfish, lOd per lb; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; lemon lish, Sd per lb; gurnard, cream fish and mussels, 2/ per dozen; fresh schnapper. and trevalli, lid to Sd each; mullet, 9d to 1/0; hapuka and kingfish, 1/ per lb; flounder, 4d to 1/(1. Smoked fish: Schnapper. lOd per lb: mullet, lOd; ttevalli, 9d; kippers, 9d per pair; silver strip, Sd per lb; crayfish, lOd to 1/ per lb; whitebait, Ud per glass. Eggs are Dearer. Supplies of eggs have been satisfactory, but a particularly keen demand has resulted in a further firming of prices. At the auction marts hen eggs have realised 1/9 per dozen, and duck 1/S. The retail price in the shops is J/10 to 1/11. Grocery Lines. Whole hams are now being retailed at 1/4 per lb, part hams 1/6 for the shank, and 1/6 for the fillet end. rashers 1/10. Bacon rashers are 1/6, aniddle cuts 1/5. Shoulder pieces 9Ad to 1/3, and shoulder rashers 1/3. Superfine butter is selling at 1/7 per ib, second grade at 1/6, and third at 1/5. Bulk "is worth 1/5. At the auction* marts farmers' butter in lb pats is quoted at 1/1 to 1/2. Cheese is selling at 1/2 per lb for mild, and for medium tasty 1/4 to 1/0 is being obtained. No Geese or Turkeys. Although neither geese or turkeys were on offer at to-day's auction sale of pooultry, there was a good supply of other lines. There was a particularly keen demand for prime heavy young cockerels, and these brought from 8/ to 10/3 each, lighter breeds realising from 6/ to 7/6. Other prices were: Fat hens 4/6 to 6/3, lighter 3/9 to 4/0; heavy roosters 4/3 to 6/, lighter 3/6 to 4/9; young ducks, or '"squeakers" a few months old. 6/3 to "/; old ducks, Indian runners 3/6 to 5/, Muscovy 4/ to 5/3; day-old chicks, 8.0. lOd to 1/, W.L. Sd to lid, mixed 4d to fid; cockerels, few weeks old, 8.0. 9d to 1/1, W.L. 2d to sd; hen and chickens, 12/ to 15/6; hen and ducklings, 17/6 to 20/. CANADIAN APPLES. DISPLACE LOCALS. A- is usual at this time of the year, Canadian ripples have arrived on * the I'i'al market, and are competing with 10-ally stored. This is unfortunate for holder*, a . this season there is an abundance of otored apples in all the chief centre* of the Dominion. The condition ot a proportion, us Hie fruit comes out of i-00l More, is not. good, and the warmer weather accelerates deterioration in xtdfea and shops, but there are- still ample siipplirs of choice New Zealand apples available. T1,,. Canadian importation* have opened up in perfect condition, and ur-11 readily at a premium over local varieties. At no time this year ban the demand looked like overtaking the supply, and now that ' umedians are displacing the locals in the relail shops, sale., will l>e further restricted. The net result is likely to be substantial losses to growers who have stored fruit for the home market. RAILWAYS' PUSH FOR • BUSINESS. The commercialising of the New '/.<•» land railway system grows apace, and Ihe Department evidently intends to use to the full il_s monopolistic powers in order to retain and increase business. An amendment to the regulations governing the carriage of pigs is gazetted, whereby the Railway Department may decline to extend the benefit of the reduced rate lo consignments of pigs consigned lo any person or firm utilising other means of transport than the railway for the carriage of bacon, hams and other products manufactured from -neb pigs when the railway is available for these goods.