Growers’ market for good quality lines

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 2

Growers’ market for good quality lines

It was a growers’ market on the Christchurch produce scene yesterday, when good quality fruit and vegetables fetched realistic prices. Prices of several vegetable lines firmed, mainly because of smaller supplies and a keen demand among buyers. Most fruits, too, are experiencing a good demand, particularly increasing quantities of sub-tropical fruits such as tamarillos, kiwi fruit, feijoas, and mandarins. Tamarillos and kiwi fruit are being supplied from the North Island, where a good growing season has resulted in excellent fruit. Yesterday, tamarillos sold at $7 to $lO a half-case, and kiwi fruit at $6 to $lO a half-case. Mandarins were $7 to $9 a halfcase, about $2 more than last week. “Winter” vegetable prices have risen this week and the cold weather is creating an encouraging demand. Growers are keeping produce markets adequately supplied. Cabbages, cauliflowers, and broccoli are all up in price; cabbages sold at $2.80 to $3.60 for drum heads, $1 to $1.60 for red cabbages and $2.50 a bag for savoys, which is about $1 increase on last week’s prices. Cauliflowers fetched $1.60 to $4.50 a bag and broccoli varied from $4.40 to $9.60 a half-case, an increase of about $3. Silver beet prices rose yesterday but quality was not as good as in recent weeks. Yesterday, it fetched $1 to $4.90 a case. Kumera sold at $6 a carton; carrots at $1.50 to $3.20 a bag; and parsnips at $l.BO to $5.60 a bag Oamaru-grown vegetables are featuring at the moment, the biggest quantities of cauliflowers, brussels sprouts and lettuces being sent from there. Brussels sprouts sold yesterday at $2 to $3.50 a bag, and lettuces

; fetched $2.40 to $3.20 a case, t : Some Southland swedes ar- s I rived on Tuesday and yester- s > day: these sold at $2.50 a i case. c • Onion prices have firmed t . s T

;■-■- j - - i 5 t ' this week, probably because , j growers are concentrating . on other vegetables. Yesterj day, onions were $2.50 to $4 f a bag. Auckland-grown tomatoes ; are proving popular and 5 prices yesterday remained t firm at $8 to $12.40 a car--1 ton. Local hot-house toa matoes fetched $4 to $lO a ; 5 carton. Ham Hardy potatoes > j sold at $2.60 to $3 a bag, , , and Chippewas were $4 to ? $5 a bag. 1 5 Grapes have jumped in , . price this week, up from $7 ! 3 to $lO to $8.50 to $l4 a ‘ s 7.5 kg case, and from $18.70 , , to $22.60 a skg case. ' > Marmalade oranges are in- 1 ! creasing in quantity this > week. These are the start of 0 — " f

the New Zealand grapefruit season and, as the name suggests, most suitable for making marmalade. Yesterday, they sold at $7 a case. In other fruit lines, bananas and oranges are scarce but these will be replenished today when a consignment arrives. Island bananas will be ready for sale but supplies of Ecuadorean bananas will need until the middle of next week to ripen. A consignment of Australian navel oranges is due next Thursday but a few Californian oranges will arrive today. Grapefruit imports have finished. A consignment of Australian pineapples is due for auction today. Several good eating varieties of apples, including Golden and Red Delicious, Packhams Triumph, and Granny Smith, are available. Mushrooms were in suprisingly good supply yesterday, as normally the end of the week sees only a small quantity. Open mushrooms sold at $4 to $6 a tray and buttons at $3.50 to $4.50 a tray.