LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 4

LOCAL FOOD PRICES.

FIRST STRAWBERRIES OF SEASON.

HEAVY SUPPLIES OF NEW POTATOES. PLENTY OF VEGETABLES.

straw berries made their first appearance at the auction marts yesterday, when a. few chips veTe offered, and reaJiserl 3/1 each. The season is considered to be a little backward, but the plants are looking well, and there are confident expectations of a satisfactory harvest. There has been no scarcity of apples at the marts during the past week. In local stocks the best samples of Stunners are still coming from the cool stores in perfect condition, but the other popular varieties, Delicious, Muuro and Doherty, are showing signs of deterioration; only the best samples keep long when placed in shops or pantries. Prices are unusually low for this season of the year, choicest quality going for 9/ and 10/ per case of 401b. Canadians are still on sale, and bring from 14/ to 16/6 'per case, according to grade. Other selling prices have been:—Delicious, 5/ to »/; a few extra special, 10/; Stunner, best quality, 7/6 to 9/; doubtful sorts, 6/6; Doherty, 5/ to 6/; Rome Beauty, 6/ to 3/; Munro. 4/ to 6/ ; Prido of Australia, 0/6 to 7/6. In pears, Winter Nelis supplies are about exhausted, and P. Barris sold from 6/6 to 10/6. There has been no Sydney fruit in tliie week except small quantities of loquals, which came via Wellington, and realised from 10/ to 12/. Island oranges ex cooler brought from 22/ to 23/ per case. Bananas have been very scarce, and realised from 24/ to 26/. Local lemons have been very plentiful, and brought from 4/ to 10/ for fresh, and- from 12/6 to 14/ for cured. American grapes realised 26/ to 28/ per barrel; Island tomatoes (indifferent quality), 8/ to 10/ a box; hothouse tomatoes, 1/3 to 1/8 per lb; tree tomatoea, 12/ per case; local sweet oranges, 7/ to 10/ per case; paaeion fruit, medium quality, 7/6 to 14/. Onions Cheaper. Thqugh local onions have been off the market for some time, there have been ample supplies of imported—first, Japanese, and later, Canadian. These are now bringing from 17/ to 18/6 per ewt crate. New potatoes are now in full supply, and the best grade are selling at ljd to 2Jd per lb; medium, l£d to lid; others, 3/ a bag. Other sales have been:—Southern potatoes, 6/6 to 7/ per cwt; cabbages, 3/ to 11/ per sack; cauliflowers, 3/ to 9/; swedes, 5/ to 8/6 per cwt; celery, 6d to 3/ per bundle; : asparagus, 9d to 1/3 per bundle; green peas, 5d to 7d per lb; French beans, 1/3 to 2/ per lb; broad lieans, 3d to 6d per lbj , rhubarb, in. very heavy supply, 2/ to 3/3 per dozen bundles; leeke, 3d to 0d per bundle; hothouse cucumbers, 6/ to 11/ - per dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 1/ to 1/9 per dozen lots. Fish Supplies. Local shops have been well stocked during the present week, a good variety of fresh fish, as well as plenty of smoked, being available. There is no alteration in retail prices, which remain as follow j—Fresh fillets, schnapper, terakihi and trevalli, 3d to 4d each; John Dory, 1/ per lb; kingfleh, 10d per lb; kippered fillets, 1/ per lb; lemon fish, 8d per lb; gurnard, cream fish and mussels; 2/ per dozen; in bottles, 1/6; fresh schnapper and trevalli, 6d to 8d each; mullet, 9d to 1/6; hapuka and kingfieh, 1/ per lb; flounder, 4d to 1/6. Smoked fish: Schnapper, 10d per lb; mulletj 10; trervalli, 9d; kippers, 9d per pajr; silver strip, 8d per lb; crayfish, lOd to 1/ per lb. Better ' Supply of Eggs. Eggs are coming in to retailers' hancjs more freely. This may be the result of bakers having now laid in their stocks.. The retail price is still 1/10 per dozen. At the auction marts during the past" week taere has been a moderate supply of eggs and a good demand at 1/9 to 1/10 per doz for liens' and 1/8 to 1/8J for ducks'. . j Butter and Cheese. At the auction marts during the. past week there have been plentiful supplies of farmers' butter in the pats. There has been a limited demand at 1/ to 1/2 per lb: The retail price to-day is 1/3 to 1/4 per lb. Cheese. Prices for cheese are unchanged. Retail rates- are 1/2 to l/4y and 1/6 for extra cheice. makes.. Bacon and Hame Dearer. An advance of one penny per pound has taken place in the wholesale price of bacon and hams. So far the higher cost lias not been passed on to customers as far ■as rashers , of bacon are concerned. Whole hams are quoted retail at 1/4 to 1/5 per lb, and rashers 1/10. Bacon, in cuts, sell from 10d to 1/6 per lb, and in rashers at 1/0 per lb. Day-old Chicks in Demand. At the auction marts to-day there was a particularly keen demand for day-old chicks, and Black Orpingtons realised from 9d to 1/2 each, and Leghorns Bid to 1/4. Table poultry was also in request, and prime heavy cockerels brought up to 11/3. The range of prices was: Prime heavy young cockerels 9/ to 11/3 each. 'lighter"-6/6' to '8/6, fat- roosters 3/6 to 5/6, heavy hens 5/ to 6/3, lighter 4/ to 5/3, Indian Kunner ducks 3/6 to 4/6, Black Orpington cockerels few weeks ola ad to 1/3.