XMAS PRODUCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1943, Page 4

XMAS PRODUCE

VEGETABLES CHEAPER GOOD VARIETY AVAILABLE Whatever the deficiencies of the Christmas dinner through possible lack of gas and of pre-war delicacies, fruit and vegetables should be there in ample quantities. A glance round the city markets to-day disclosed an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and prices, apart from some exceptional lines, were fairly reasonable. In fact, some local fruit, such as plums, tomatoes and gooseberries, were cheaper than at this period last year. Imported fruits, of course, are scarce, but there was a release of Australian oranges this week and coconuts and paw-paws can be obtained at some shops. Complete absence of apples this Christmas is an unusual feature. Normally Canadian and Tasmanian varieties are brought over for the Christmas and holiday trade until the new crop matures. . Wartime exigencies have precluded any apple imports, and local cool store supplies were exhausted earlier than usual this year owing to the smaller crop and the large draw-off for the armed forces. So the old habit of filling any gaps, in the' youngsters' stocking on Christmas Eve With apples must go into the discard. Strawberries so far have been expensive, and still higher rates can be expected before the holidays. Here are to-day's fruit prices with those at the corresponding time last year in parentheses:—Hothouse tomatoes, 9d to 2/4J lb (1/ to 2/6 lb); New Zealand grapefruit, 22/0 to 27/G a case (32/ to 60/): strawberries, extra choice, 4/ a chip (3/6 to 5/8 a chip); gooseberries, 19/6 a case (12/9 to 13/); plums, dessert, 20/ to 22/ a case (10/ to 27/ a case); loganberries. 2/ to 2/9 a chip (2/4 to 2/11); black currants, 22/6 to 20/« a case (13/ to 19/3); apricots, 21/ to 42/0 (20/ to 4S/). With "victory gardens" now beginning to pay a handsome dividend, home-grown supplies of vegetables have relieved the demand at the markets, and plentiful stocks can be had of seasonal produce such as peas, beans, marrows and cabbage at moderate prices. On the other hand lettuce was expensive in town today—from Sd to 10d each—supplies having been reduced by the long spell of dry weather. But the recent rain resulted in larger consignments to market to-day, which should be reflected in cheeper lines to-morrow despite the rising Christmas demand. New season's onions, mostly from the Mangere district, were selling at the markets to-day at from lid to 3d a lb, which is three or four times cheaper than a year ago. There has been a glut of cabbage for some weeks, and here rates quoted are largely nominal. Production from the State farms, in addition to homegrown vegetables, is another factor making for improved supply when compared with the situation just before last Christmas.