Quiet Period For Grocery Trade

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31587, 26 January 1968, Page 21

Quiet Period For Grocery Trade

(By Our Grocery Reporter) When schools reopen next week, the tempo in the grocery trad6 will quicken but at the moment the trade is going through its usual quiet spell.

Most household gardens have vegetables maturing about now and this reflects on business too. Jam making and preserving are in full swing and whenever prices are low, sales of jars, sugar and other preserving requirements are high. Tomato Products Dearer. —Because of higher prices being paid to tomato growers, canners have had to increase the price of their products which include whole tomatoes and tomato soup. For whole tomatoes, the increase is from 2c to 3c. The suggested price for 16oz is 22c and 220 z, 28c. Dried Apricots.—A new system of grading has been introduced in South Africa for tree fruits. The'system is similar to that used in other countries. As an example choice extra large which is top quality used to be five Diamond. The new season’s crop is being harvested and prices are expected later this month. With the short crop in Australia, it is possible that New Zealand buyers will be turning to this source to supplement their requirements for 1968. Coconut.—Now that coconut has been delicensed, buyers are more selective as and when they buy their coconut. Some years ago, Ceylon was the main supplier to the New Zealand market but because of price and irregular shipping, other markets were relied on such as the

Philippines and Tonga in the last few years. Shipments of Tongan coconut, which has a good share of the New Zealand market, recently have been irregular and the processors have not been studying quality Recently the Ceylon market fell and is more competitive than the Philippine and possibly their re-entry into the market to a large degree will occur within the next month or so. Australian Postal Strike.—The recent strike in Australia of postal workers was not without its repercussions in New Zealand. Some importers have goods on the water and in most cases, it is only a three day journey or less to New Zealand ports. With no airmail, goods are arriving but there are no documents for their clearance. South Australian exporters have been sending the documents by air freight, thus overcoming some of the delays. Californian Prunes.—The Dried Fruit Association of California has decided that as from December 8, 1967, the smaller variety of packaged prunes, commonly known as 60/70, or Santa Clara quality will in future be known as California standard quality prunes, or better. The reason for the change is to simplify the quality of prunes available for shipment for overseas buyers.