Produce scene

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 2

Produce scene

Market sees stone fruit in abundance

The stone fruit season is still in full swing, with another large supply at the Christchurch markets this week, although from now oni the good supplies are expected to decrease. A large variety of stone fruit is available for a long period in Christchurch, as fruit is bought from Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Blen-i heim, and Central Otago. The Hawke’s Bay season is almost over, and supplies from Nelson and Blenheim have not been large this season. However, the Central Otago fruit is still arriving in good quantities, and the season has not yet begun for several varieties of plums, peaches, and nectarines. Apricots were selling for $3.50 a quarter case, and half cases sold from $4.60 to $6. There were a few cases at slightly lower prices, and one particularly good line sold at $6.50 a half case.

The price of peaches was a little lower than last week, with tray peaches down to $1.20 to $2.60. Cases of Freestone peaches were $4 to $5.20. and other varieties were $2.40 to $4 a case.

Cooking plums are $2 to $4 for a half case, and dessert plums are $4 to $lO for the same quantity. The purple king plums sold at $2.50 to $5.10 a tray.

Trays of nectarines made $2.60 to $6, with some as low as $2 a tray. A half case of nectarines was selling for $3.50 to $5.40. A half case of greengages bought $5 to $7.50, and quarter-case lots made S2 to 53.20.

There has been a good demand for preserving fruit all week, and the demand for dessert fruit has been exceptionally heavy.

It is between seasons for strawberries, and sellers are waiting for the beginning of the next crop. Strawberries

at the markets yesterday sold at 70c to 92c a punnet. Now is the best time of the year for the top-quality ;glasshouse Hamburg grapes, land they sold at $1.54 to 152.86 per kg. , I A shipment of Californian oranges is expected to arrive on the Timaru Star at Lyttelton on Monday, so the fruit should be available by midweek. Bananas have sold extremely well, possibly due to the apple shortage, and a small quantity of Tongan bananas is due next week. A supply of Ecuadorean bananas is due at Lyttelton on March 7.

A small supply of Worcester apples, a high-coloured soft variety of apple, was available this week. There was a great demand for them, and they sold at $lB to $2l a carton. It is hoped that the first supplies of Cox’s Orange Pippin will be available by the end of next week.

Glasshouse tomatoes sold at $3 to $5 for a skg carton, and outdoor tomatoes brought $3.59 to $6 a half case.

Sweet corn was sold at $2 to $3.70 for bushel cases containing about 36 to 40 cobs. . Cucumbers were $1 to $3 a half case which meant | they sold at about 11c to |2lc each. Apple cucumbers sold at $1.50 to $2 a case.

I Most of the potatoes sold from $l.lO to 51.50 for bags of about 22kg. Onions were $3 to $4.50 for 20 to 22kg bags. Kumeras were $l2 to $l5 for bushel lots, and swedes sold at $1.50 to SI.BO for 9kg bags. The first of the local parsnips made $1.50 a half case, and $3.50 for 6kg bags.

Carrots, in 16 to 18kg bags, made $2.50 to $5. Bushel cases of carrots sold lat $2.50 to $2.80.

The only spinach offered was not particularly good

quality, and was sold for $1 a bushel. Beetroot was sold at $1.50 for a bushel case of bunches, and $2 a half case of loose beetroot.

Beans, the stringless runner and butter beans, sold at 80c to $2.20 for a half case, and peas made $3 to $4.70 a bushel. Some cheaper lines of peas were also sold. Cabbages sold at $1 to $2 for a bag of eight, and red cabbage sold at 80c to $1 for the same quantity. Bags of six, eight, and ten cauliflowers sold for $1.60 to $3, and lettuces made 80c to $2 for a bag of eight. Celery brought $l.BO to $3.60 a bushel, and white turnips went at 80c to $1.50 for a dozen bunches.

There was a strong demand for mushrooms, which were in short supply. They fetched a good price at $7.60 to $8 a tray. Spring onions sold in dozen bunches at $1 to $1.50, and ratfishes were 60c to $1.50 for a dozen bunches. Retail prices:— Apricots (kg), 84c to $1.30. Nectarines (kgi, 51.32 to $1.76. Plums (kgl, 84c to 99c. Purple King Plums (kg), $1.63 to $1.76. Peaches (each), 12c to 15c. Greengages (kg). $1.32 to $1.54. Apples (kg), $l.lO to $1.32. Water melon (kg), 60c to 99c. Strawberries (punnet), 95c to $l. Hamburg Grapes (kg), $4.40 to $2.87. Tomatoes (kg), 66c to $1.55. I Cucumber (each), 25c to 55c. I Apple Cucumber leach), 10c to 23c. Sweetcorn (cob), 18c to 20c. Mushrooms (kg), $2.60 to $3.30. Spring Onions (bunch), 30c to 35c. Radishes (bunch), 20c to 25c. Parsley (bunch). 25c to 40c. Lettuce (each), 19c to 40c. Celery (bunch), 43c to 95c. Silver beet (kg), 42c to 44c. Spinach (bunch). 29c to 35c. Beetroot (kg), 44c to 55c. Marrow (kg), 22c. Courgettes (kg), 77c to 44c. Kumara (kg). $1.21 to $1.32. Onions (kg), 44c. Parsnips (kg), 64c to 77c. Carrots (kg), 44c to 65c. Pumpkin (kg), 39c to 44c. Butternut (kg), 66c. Buttercup (kg), 44c to 66c. Cabbage (each), 25c to 40c. Red Cabbage teach), 20c to 39c. Peas (kgi. 66c to 99e.