Week After Easter Is Usually Busy

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 15

Week After Easter Is Usually Busy

(From our Grocery Reporter)

This week has been another short week for grocers but it has been busy as usual after a holiday with housewives restocking their shelves and pantries.

Slight frosts experienced In the last week have started to retard growth in household gardens. A poor season has been experienced for tomatoes and high prices have been paid generally throughout the year. This could have an effect on canned tomatoes and the demand perhaps could be heavier this year than last. Householders will be relying more on canned and frozen vegetables from now on and this should help boost sales generally. Canadian Salmon: Not long ago additional licences were granted for fish imports. Most importers took the opportunity of buying more Canadian salmon which is now becoming scarce. Recent quotations showed this market had firmed and packers are offering fancy pink salmon, subject to availability, at the new higher price. American Rice: American long grain rice has been growing in popularity and now it could be the best selling rice on the New Zealand market. Buyers now have their last opportunity of purchasing American rice in this licensing period as it must leave America not later than the end of April to arrive within the period. American rice stocks will not last indefinitely and it is Interesting to note that there has been another rice shortage in Thailand and this could have a serious effect on world rice stocks.

American new season’s rice will not be available until September.

Garlic: This is the time of the year garlic is being harvested in the South Island and growers are sending their crops In for sale. For many years garlic was looked upon as something "foreign,” but today more and more recipes include garlic. Fresh garlic, garlic powders and garlic salts are on the move after appearing on grocers’ shelves. The discreet use of garlic in food can be quite tasteful. Liver Salts:— According to advice received from the distributors of Andrew’s Liver Salts, new suggested retail prices now apply. These are 3s 2d for 4oz and 5s 4d for 8oz — increases of 2d and 4d.