Oranges and lettuce among best buys

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 13

Oranges and lettuce among best buys

Cauliflowers, lettuce, and New Zealand oranges offer the best value to housewives, judging by prices at the Christchurch produce markets yesterday.

Cauliflowers are cheaper than they were last week and are retailing between 20c and 35c each. The last supplies of winter cauliflowers are in the markets now, an J spring cauliflowers should be arriving soon. Hothouse lettuce, at this early stage of the season, are fairly expensive at up to 60c a head, but they are ve*v large, quite firm, and of good quality. Local outside lettuce are retailing from 20c a head to 40c. Larger quantities should reach the markets soon and lower the price. Navel oranges from Tauranga provided the most interest on the market floor yesterday, and buyers were of the opinion that the oranges are even better than the imported Australian variety. They sold for $6.70 a case wholesale and should retail for about 25c per lb. Stunner apples have deteriorated in quality in the last week, but they are still excellent for cooking. There are still plenty of Delicious varieties available, but Granny Smiths have finished for the season. A shipment of bananas is expected today and should be in the shops late in the afternoon. Other prices (retail unless otherwise mentioned) at the markets were:—Cabbages, good quality Bombay, 19c to ■ 25c each; spinach 23c a bunch; silver beet, 15c a bunch; celery, scare, but of good quality, 29c to 40c a . head; carrots, 5c to 7c per lb; i parsnips, much improved supply, 12c to 15c per lb; pumpkins, supplies shortening, 8c to 12c per lb: kun.i--i kumi pumpkin, excellent quality, 4c per lb; swedes, good quality, 5c to 7c per lb;

leeks, 25c a bunch; cucumbers, up to 50c each; hothouse tomatoes, up to 90c per lb; seminole mandarins, 49c per lb; tamarilloe, up to 40c per lb; kiwi fruit, 50c per lb; onions 7c per lb; new potatoes, up to 25c per lb; old potatoes, 70c to 75c per 10 lb.