AT THE MARTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 309, 31 December 1931, Page 4

AT THE MARTS.

TOMATO VALUES EASED.

SOFT FRUIT PLENTIFUL.

ORANGES SELLING WELL.

Strawberry stocks are fair at the markets to-day, and the sale, to-morrow being New Year's Day, is good. This is a popular holiday fruit. The Captain Cook variety, though smaller, has more flavour, and continues to meet with most inquiry and higher prices. There are indications that the peak of the seasou has been reached, and that the season will end early. Values for tomatoes have eased this week, and, if this fruit is as plentiful as it was last season, they should be lower yet. Some firm lines, suitable for shipping, realised higher values. There 13 a ready sale for tomatoes. Generally speaking, fair quantities of soft fruit are available for the New Year, meeting with a good holiday sale. Strawberries, dessert fruit, and 'tomatoes are usually the more popular. Though a few local cooking apples have appeared on the market, there is as yet no dessert fruit. A small quantity of Canadian Winesaps and .Delicious are still left, and it is expected that these will be sufficient to bridge the gap. Ripe bananas are still plentiful, -and are cheaper, as is natural. There is, however, no trouble in disponing of this fruit, which is about as steady of sale as any. Peaches are fetching up to 12/ a case for extra choice lines. This price will fall when the fruit becomes commoner. Oranges are selling well.. Further stocks of black currants arrived in time for to-day's sale. These have been off the market for the past few days. They were disposed of readily from 5/ to 6/ case. Prices were:— Strawberries, Captain Cooks, lOd to 1/4 chip; Marguerites, 8d to 1/2; Helenslea, i)d to 1/3; tomatoes, hothouse, half ripe, 5d to 8d lb; ripe, 3d to 7d; outdoor, 2d to sd; loganberries, 7d to B'/&d chip; plums, Tragedy Prune, 8/ to 9/ case; choice dessert, 4/ to 8/; others, 1/G to 3/; lemons, 8/ to 12/ case; apricots, Thames, 2/0 to 6/0 case; Sydney, 10/ to J2/; cherries, Australian, 10/ to 14/ ease; local, 5/, small cases; oranges, Australian, Valeucias, 9/ to 13/; Australian, Valencias, double cases, 14/ to 20/; peaches, 3/ to 0/ case; extra choice, 9/ to 12/; apples, local, cookers, 3/ to 0/ case; Canadian, 14./ to 21/; bananas, No. l's, orange case, 20/ to 24/ case; mediums, 17/ to 20/; seconds, 10/ up; grapes. Emperors, 24/ keg; hothouse, 1/7 to 2/0% per lb; black currants, 5/ to 0/ case. Vegetable Market Dull. There has been little doing in the vegetable market between the holidays, and prices havo not altered much. Beans and peas are in heavy supply, while there are also a few new season's pumpkins. There are plenty of marrows available. Market values are:— Potatoes, best, 2/ to 3/6 bag; onions, 2/6 to 3/6 bag; kumaras, Island, 11/ cwt; cabbage, 2/ to 3/ sack; cauliflower, 2/ to 4/ sack; swedes, 2/ to 3/ bag; green peas, 3/ to 4>, 6 hag; beans, 1/ to '2/ bag; lettuce, 1/ to 3/6 case; cucumbers, outdoor, 6d to 1/6 dozen; vegetable marrows, 1/ to 1/6 dozen; cabbage, loose,' 1/ to 2/ dozen; cauliflowers, loose, 2/ to 4/ dozen; celery, 1/ to 1/6 bundle; rhubarb, ]/ to 3/ dozen; spinach, 6d dozen; pumpkins, loose, 4d to J/6 each; radish, 6d dozen bundles; spring onions, 4d to 0d bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 6d to 1/6 dozen. Eggs and Butter. Eggs are in moderate supplies and the demand fair. Wholesale net selling cash prices for hen eggs are:—Special grade, l/AVt dozen; A grade, ]/3 i A; B grade, 1/2'/- C grade, B'M. Duck eggs: Special grade, 1/3 V& dozen; A (Trade, 1/2 V&; B grade, l/l'/a; C grade,, ll'/id. Farmers' butter is fetching from 8d to lid per lb. Poultry. At to-day's auctions the supply of poultry was medium, even lor New Year, and the demand was fair. The prices paid were level with Tuesday. Selling rates were as follow:— Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 3/ to 5/ each; not prime, 2/ up; light breeds, prime, 2/ to 3/3; not prime, 1/3 up; fat roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2/ to 2/6; light breeds, 1/3 to 2/; hens, heavy breeds, 2/ to 2/6; light breeds, 373 to 1/0; pullets, heavy breeds, best, 5/ to 7/; smaller, 3/ up; light breeds, best, 5/ to 7/; smaller. 3/ up; drakes, young, prime, 2/ to 2/0; smaller, 1/ up; ducks, young, 3/ to 4/; old, 1/0 to 2/; drakes, old, 1/3 to 2/.