CHRISTMAS FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 13

CHRISTMAS FRUIT.

SPECIAL SHIPMENTS.

AMPLE SUPPLIES DUE.

LOCAL CROPS COMING ON.

Fruit merchants and retailers are hoping for the biggest Christmas in history, and to that end have made special arrangements to import sufficient oranges and bananas to meet the seasonal demand. > A shortage of bananas was feared because the Matua's two December shipments from the Islands are due on the first of the month and on Boxing Day. An extra supply of about 10,000 cases has been especially ordered from Fiji, however, and will be landed by the Waipahi about the middle of the month. As for oranges, ample quantities of New South Wales late Valencias are available now that the embargo has been temporarily lifted. Importation by license is free from now to the end of April. There is no fear of a repetition of last summer's orange famine, since there will be fruit on nearly every boat from Sydney. Demand for all fruit, especially strawberries, is increasing as the weather grows hotter. Owing to the dry spell strawberries are not developing as rapidly as growers would wish. The light rain of the past few days has been very welcome, however, and if there is sufficient moisture the crop should be a one. The plants are in excellent condition, the dry weather having checked root trouble. The flush of the season is likely to be a little later than usual. The market I is often flooded in the second week in December, and by Christmas supplies are usiially less abundant and prices rise. The weather is expected to hold back the flush till nearly Christmas this year, but continued rain would upset all calculations. Prospects' for Marguerite strawberries are doubtful, as they are very susceptible to unsuitable weather, but there should be a good supply of Captain Cook.