AMPLE SUPPLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 178, 29 July 1940, Page 5

AMPLE SUPPLIES.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE. VEGETABLES AND FRUIT. PRICES FAVOUR PUBLIC. Favourable winter conditions following a good summer and autumn have assisted the supply o* vegetables* and fruit in Auckland to such an extent that prices at the markets and in the shops are much below those ruling a year ago. Most marked are the contrasts in the prices of potatoes, onions, pumpkins, green vegetables and apples. "All vegetables" except kumaras and all leading varieties of fruit except pears are cheaper than last winter," said a principal of a city firm of produce auctioneers to-day. "Although the demand is keen, as this is the soup season in Auckland, the supplies are so large that there is a very considerable benefit to the public ia the saving on the cost of living." < Comparisons of prices with those at the end of July last year show the greatest difference in potatoes, pumpkins and cabbages. Towards the end of July last Ohakune potatoes were from 12/ to 16/ a 4cwt bag at the Auckland markets; to-day the price is from 3/6 to 4/. Pumpkins a year ago were from 17/ to 24/ a sack for the best, compared with 7/ to 10/ to-day. Cabbages were from 4/ to 9/ a sack, as against 1/6 to 4/ at present, and cauliflowers were from 8/6 to 12/6 a sack, which compares with 2/6 to 4/6 to-day. Onions, which became exceptionally dear during last spring, had not risen to any marked extent by July, but, like potatoes, soared in price during the third quarter of the year. Kumaras are the one important exception to the general trend. This year, owing to a cooler summer and a combination of conditions which generally favoured other vegetables, the kumara crop was below normal and prices today range from 4d to 4|d a pound at

the markets, compared with lid to 2d last July, just before the seasonal change over to Island supplies.

In fruit, pears are the chief exception to the lower prices, being at least 50 per cent dearer to-day than 12 months ago. Apples have been plentiful for several months and tomatoes have had a longer season than usual. The tree tomato crop has been well above normal and Chinese gooseberries, which have gone into quick and extensive cultivation in . Auckland, have been marketed in hundreds of cases, compared with dozens last winter.