AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 304, 24 December 1929, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

THE SEASON REVIEWED. WEATHER AFFECTS SUPPLIES. STRAWBERRY GROWERS' TROUBLES. Practically all lines of fruit, in common with vegetables, are in very satisfactory supply—from the buyers' point of view. Stocks in hand just now are very large, with the result that fruit, generally speaking, is cheap. As with vegetables, the weather has had a great influence on all home-grown fruit. Thus tomatoes have fluctuated in price in accordance with the vagaries of Auckland's summer. About a month ago, they | were scarce and dear on account of the j wet spell. Before that when 'the Waipihi brought fruit from the Islands, supplies were more regular, but the price at present is the lowest that has obtained consistently. Warmer weather has helped very considerably. Strawberries are both the fear and hope of Auckland growers. The season, now rapidly passing, has been a very mixed one. Quality and quantity has changed with all variations of which Auckland weather is capable. Added to this, there was the fear of a blight, and it is a wonder that supplies for Christmas have been at all adequate. At one period when the season was just commencing, the weather was particularly bad, and growers were apprehensive that their young fruit would be altogether spoilt. The demand, however, has been fairly steady, and whenever there was fruit on the marts, it could always be sold. Supplies and quality at present are fairly good.

To the tale of plentiful supplies, there are two exceptions. Bananas are scarce and dear, and stocks of Canadian apples are beginning to run low. The Waipihi was able to pick up only a very disappointingly small cargo of bananas when she made her special Christmas trip to the Islands, and there was no other source of supply.

Both red and black currants are to be seen on the marts, and they seem to be a favourite Christmas dish.

Peaches are also selling well, particularly those in good condition. They are fetching from 4/ to 12/.

Orange stocks will be replenished from California and Australia shortly. The Ulimaroa to-day brought apricots and cherries.

Ruling values are:—

Apples: Stunners, 12/6 to 15/; Delicious (Canadian), 21/ to 25/; Newtown Pippin (Canadian), 24/ to 26/; Winesap (Canadian), 23/6 to 25/. Tomatoes: Hothouse, green, 9d to lOd; No. 1 ripe, 8d to 9d; medium and No. 2, 5d to 7d; outdoor, 3d to 7d. Oranges: Californian Navels, 37/6 to 42/6. Gooseberries: 4/6 to 5/6. Plums; Cherry, 2/6 to 4/; Sharps, early, 4/ to 6/; Green, 2/ to 4/; Evans, early, 4/ to 6/. Cherries: Australian, 12/ to 15/. Apricots: Thames, 3/ to 6/; Australian, 10/ to 14/. Lemons: No. 1, 12/ to 14/; No. 2, 6/ - to 8/. Grapes: Californian in barrels, 20/ to 22/6: local hothouse Hamburg, 1/3 to 1/8 per lb. Bananas: Repacked Ripe, 30/ to 35/; medium and No. 2, 25/ to 28/. Strawberries: Marguerites, 7d to 9%d: Helenslea Surprise, 7d to 9%d; Captain Cooks, 9d to 1/4. Coconuts: 16/ per sack. Red Currants, 5/9; black Currants, 10/.

Vegetables in Heavy Supply. Generally speaking all lines of vegetables are in very heavy supply at the marts. Though heavy rains earlier m the season, when the weather was not so warm, hindered the growth of several lines such as green peas, rain later on, when conditions were humid, has made for rapid and prolific growth. In consequeno# quantities in hand are heaviest for soin# years past.

As a result of the comparative shortage of peas and beans, cabbage has had a market when ordinarily it would have been unsaleable. . Cucumbers were slow in coming forward, and up to tlie present, supplies have been to a large extent, either imported, or hothouse grown. Warmer weather has helped this vegetable, and the outdoor variety is now coming to hand in proper quantities. This also is true of vegetable marrows. Lettuces have been in good supply, and at present there are very large quantities available. Except for one short period, when the weather was very bad, new potato stocks have been consistently heavy, and are now saleable only at extremely low prices.

Prices Have Been Low. Generally speaking prices have not been favourable this Christmas. !• or example, cucumbers, which this time last year wcie fetching from' 6/ to 12/ dozen, are now selling at 2/6 to 6/. Green peas have been comparatively high-priced until a week ago, and when to cope with the rush ol Christmas shopping, prices might have been expected to go higher, they suddenly dropped. About a fortnight ago the price was 4d to 6d a lb. At present it is 2 1 /kd to 3d Beans, two weeks past were selling from 6d to 9d a lb, and recently were fetching 3d to 4%d.

Apparently the public has not been prepared to flay for Christmas luxuries, and the demand through the shopkeepers has not been good.

Large wholesale buyers state that there has been no profit in green peas, which usually tire such a reliable standby. 3. hey have been buying at 4Vzd to 6d, and to get rid of their stocks, have been selling at the same figure. Present prices are:—

Potatoes, new, 2/ to 3/6 bag; onions, 14/ crate; new, locals, 2/6 to 4/ bag-; kumaras, Tauranga, 6/ to 7/6 cwet; cabbage, 2/ to 8/6 sack; cauliflower, 3/ to 12/ sack; swedes, 2/ to 4/6 bag; pumpkins, 1/6 to 3/ each; green peas, 4/ to 8/ bag; beans, 3d to 4%d lb; lettuce, 1/ to 3/ case; cucumbers, outdoor, heavy supplies, 1/6 to 4/6 dozen; vegetable marrows, 1/6 to 4/6; cabbage, on benches, 1/6 to 2/6; cauliflower, on benches, 2/ to 5/; celery, 2/ to 4/ bundle; rhubarb, 1/ to 3/ dozen; spinach. 1/ to 1/6; spring onions, 3d to 1/ bundle; radish, 6d to lOd dozen; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 1/3 to 2/ dozen; leeks, 3d to 4d bundle.

Eggs Steady. Eggs are in short supply and in good demand. First quality prices are:— Special grade, l/GVzd; A grade, 1/5; B grade. 1/4. Duck eggs: Special grade, 1/5; A grade, 1/4; B grade, 1/3 dozen For moderate supplies of farmers butter, there is a good demand. It is fetching from 1/2 to 1/4 a lb. Poultry. At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was very heavy and the demand was keen for table birds. The prices paid remain about level. Selling rates were as follows:— Cockerels: Heavy breeds, prime, 6/6 _to 8/ each; not prime, 3/6 up; light breeds, prime, 3/ to 4/6; not prime, 2/6 up l<at roosters: Heavy breeds, prime, 2/6 to 3/, light breeds, 2/ to 2/6. Fat hens: Heavy breeds, 3/ to 4/; light breeds 2/ to 2/9. Drakes: Young, prime, 3/6 to 4/; smaller, 2/ up; old, 1/6 to 2/. Ducks: Young o/ to 4/; old, 1/6 to 2/ Geese: 6/ to 8/6 Turkey liens: 7/ to 10/6.- Gobblers. 12/6 to 22/6. Cockerel chicks: Heavy breeds, 6d to 1/6; light breeds, 3d to 9d.