GROCERY NOTES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27896, 18 February 1956, Page 12

GROCERY NOTES

AUSTRALIAN GOODS EXPECTED SOON Now that the Australian waterfront strike is over a return to normal shipping opportunities can soon be expected; but it will be some time before Australian goods which are in short supply are available. There is a big back log of items to be shipped and not enough transport is immediately available. However, according to latest information Queensland fruits are expected to receive priority on the Purnea, which is expected from Brisbane. At this time of the year, with the beginning of the lenten season, sales of canned fish increase noticeably. Today the public have as wide a range as in pre-war times to buy from. The selection today includes salmon, sardines, herrings, pilchards, shrimps, oysters and whitebait in many brands and sizes.

Australian Dried Fruits.—New season’s prices and crop reports have now been issued for dried apiicots, peaches, and pears. Apricols are of the most interest to the New Zealand market, where the sales are far ahead of those of the other two fruits. The crop reports are not good; because of ad-erse weather conditions, the harvest has been bad. A wide range of grades is being quoted, but merchants have been informed the lower grades may be substituted if orders cannot be filled by the higher grades. Prices will be on a similar basis as last year's. American Canned Oysters.—Today oysters canned on the East Coast of the United States are bsing qu ted on this market. In former days these oysters had a good reputation. Their landed co t is below that of New Zealand oysters, which have not been readily availab.e o.er recent years.

Australian Canned Apricots.—Weather conditions have had a large bearing on the availability of Australian canned apricots, and indications are that there will not be large quantities available for distribution. Agents are urging that orders should be placed promptly so that they will be confirmed.

New Zealand Canned Peaches.—The latest reports from a Hastings canner i idicates that they will have available practically any quantities of peaches req ired this year. This should have a large bearing on imports. It is some time since New Zealand-canned fruit has been in good supply. The trade awaits witli interest the consumers’ reaction to the changed supply situation.