POTATOES SOUGHT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 12

POTATOES SOUGHT

Demand From North Business with North Island potato buyers is described by merchants as reasonable or steady. A great deal hinges on the North Island market. If the demand is good there could be a satisfactory clearance of the South Island crop.

Whereas the South Island crop comes within the scope of the Potato Board’s assessment, this being the main crop area, a fair-sized acreage in the north does not come within the board’s operations. Once the northern stocks are used, there is a demand for Canterbury potatoes, and merchants are hoping this keeps up for the next three months. Recent prices have also been approaching a more realistic level. To the grower, Ham Hardy and Sebago are worth about £l4 a ton, Chippewa £l5, and Suttons £l6. Quality Good Quality appears to have been good so far, with a minimum of repercussion on delivery of consignments. Size of potatoes, too, has been more in line with buyers’ requirements. With late frosts in some of the foothills during the growing season, table potatoes have been smaller, and more satisfactory for the buyer. Trade in small seeds, both locally and overseas, is at a minimum.