Prices Of Fruit And Vegetables

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 10

Prices Of Fruit And Vegetables

Sir, —Apart from the small percentage of the cost of production which-can be claimed to be because of imported fertiliser and machinery, I fail to understand the fantastic increases in the prices of vari-

ous fry its and vegetables produced 'in New Zealand. Carrots have gone up 10c to 12c a bundle—and some bundles contain only four or five plants. This vegetable was quoted as selling at $1.25 to $2 a case in the market last Thursday. Apples at 25c per lb are approximately twice as expensive as they were last year. The “mark-up” of re- ' tailers in many other directions appears to indicate that they are exploiting the public and enjoying a profit-mak-ing spree. Isn’t it possible for any Government department to do anything to control the activities of these profiteers? —Yours, etc., PENSIONER. January 11, 1968. [The General Manager of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board (Mr D. L. Waller) replies: “The position is that the new season has hardly commenced and by January 11, only 600 cases of apples had been available for sale in the Canterbury and South Canterbury marketing areas. This early fruit has for some years been auctioned at the request of the Merchants’ Federation and the Retailers’ Association so that every retailer has the opportunity of participating in the purchase of the limited supplies available. The board has no control over the level of retail prices but it is expected that prices should drop within a week or ten days as heavier supplies of Gravenstein become availabl-.”!

Sir.—F. R. Millar expresses my own sentiments entirely when he advises all housewives to buy direct from the growers where possible. This not only cut out the profitmaking “middle men,” but ensures fresh produce. Where I personally frequent, I can actually go down tl.-> garden and choose which green vegetables I want cut. It is the sensible and less expensive way to buy perishable goods. —Yours, etc., ANOTHER HOUSEWIFE. January 24, 1968.