Oranges and bananas in shops next week

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 17

Oranges and bananas in shops next week

An Ecuadoria n shipment of bananas and a Californian shipment of oranges, lemons and grapefruit are expected to be retailing by next week. There have been no oranges for a month, and no bananas for a fortnight. Cauliflower, cabbage and Southland swedes were the best vegetable buys on the market from Monday to Thursday this week. Cauliflowers improved in supply and quality, wholesaling at up to $1.60 a case depending on number and quality; cabbages were in plentiful supply, wholesaling at up to $l.lO a case, and green flowering broccoli, curly kale, and red cabbage appeared on the market this week. There was an increased demand for Southland swedes. Quality improved and they were wholesaling at up to $1.20 a bag. Apples and pears were the best fruit buys, apples being in good quality and supply. The most popular sales were Delicious, and Golden Delicious. Jonathan and Kidds Red were also on the market but there was a falling off in Cox’s Orange. Winter Nelis, Louis Beurre Bpsc and Louis Bon de Jersey pears were selling well.

North Island passionfruit were plentiful, and the popular black passionfruit were retailing from 3c to 7c each. Tamarillos and Chinese gooseberries, also from the North Island, were in plentiful supply retailing respectively at 19c to 29c, and 25c to 45c per lb.

Salad vegetables were in steady supply. Tomatoes firmed in price and were wholesaling at 15c to 25c per lb; retailing at 20c to 35c per lb. Lettuce was not in heavy demand, wholesaling from $1 to $1.50 a case. Southern lettuce was retailing at $2 a large case, and there was a small supply of new season’s hot - house cucumbers. Supplies of red and green capsicums decreased, retailing at 25c to 40c per lb. Celery was available in improved quality and the Utah variety was predominant, retailing at 15c to 29c a head.

Quality stringless beans remained firm in supply, wholesaling from $1.70 to $1.40' per 81b case. Good quality com still holding both in supply and demand was wholesaling at $1.20 a case.

Mushrooms were in plentiful supply and good demand, wholesaling from 20c to 45c per lb. Improved supplies of brussel sprouts were on the market and there was good demand. They were wholesaling from up to $5.20 a case and retailing up to 29c per lb. Of the hard vegetables a good variety of Maori pumpkin, Kumi kumi, was available. Good quality kumera were in plentiful supply, bringing $6 a case (whole-

sale) and retailing at 15c to 20c per lb. Parsnips were in good demand but short supply, wholesaling up to $1.70 a case, and quality carrots were wholesaling at $l.lO to $1.60 a case. Pumpkins, including buttercup and butternut were in plentiful supply, retailing at 5c to 10c per lb according to variety. Potato prices have continued firm, up to $2 a case wholesale. Onions were in steady supply and demand was good. Best quality onions were wholesaling up to $2 a bag. Premium price early season leeks in restricted supply and good demand were wholesaling up to $l.BO a case, and retailing at 12c each. Silver beet was in plentiful supply, wholesaling up to 80c a case, and spinach was firm in price, (wholesaling at $1.50 a dozen’ bunches.