TINNED FRUIT SUPPLIES ARE NOW BETTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 4, 6 October 1950, Page 5

TINNED FRUIT SUPPLIES ARE NOW BETTER

For the first time in many years tinned fruits are now clearly on display in Whakatane food shops and the supply is said to be better now than it has been since before the war. Shipments of fruit have arrived from Australia and further shipments are expected in New Zealand within the next week or two.

According to a manager of one well-known chain store in the town there will probably be enough tinned fruit for everyone this summer. Supplies are coming to hand much more regularly and in larger quantities so that it is now possible to satisfy almost every demand. Although prices for the fruit have been high compared with those prior to the war tins have been selling readily. In one store the proprietor said that a number of his customers had been buying by the case to ensure that they did not go short at Christmas. However, he thought there was little need to go in for bulk or panic buying, as present supplies indicated little chance of any possible shortage. In a round of grocer shops it was noted that almost everyone was displaying large stocks of tinned pineapple, peaches and apricots together with plums and tree tomatoes. Many people are now eating tinned fruit without worrying unduly where their next tin is coming from. Compared with those just before the war, prices are very high. Around about 1939 pineapple was selling at 5d a tin. Today it is 2/o£d, peaches at Is 4d, now 2s Bd. Apricots were then and still are the most expensive item. Is 5d pre-war, now 2s 10s. However, this has had very little affect on the sales. Most people appear to have forgotten those prices and, even if they still remember, are not worrying very much because they are so pleased to be able to "buy the commodity.

, Apricots, peaches and pineapples are coming from Australia although some of the better pineapple has come from Singapore. Most of the pineapple plantations are nearing full production following a periocl of inactivity after the Japanese occupation. With better supplies coming to hand one grocer said he would not be unduly surprised if the prices dropped slightly within the next month or two. Plums and tree tomatoes are still comparatively easy to buy. These fruits were tinned during the war to make up for the lack pf other fruit. They were more of 'an experiment but became very popular and are used a lot during the summer.