Freight charges hit N.I. growers

Press, 16 June 1978, Page 2

Freight charges hit N.I. growers

A further increase in freight rates is expected to set back many North Island growers who supply fruit and vegetables to the South Island produce markets. Rail and cartage charges for market gardeners could increase by about 12.5 per cent at the end of this ( month. This will result in a marked increase in the prices of North Island pro- ‘ duce. Few South Island growers send produce to the North Island so the increased freight rates will have the Sest effect on North Isgrowers. Growers who send only fruit to the South Island markets will not be hit as hard as those who send vegetables that bring in little value, such as potatoes and cabbages. Growing fruit, in particular sub-tropical fruits such as mandarins, kiwi fruit, tamarillos, and feijoas, means the growers will be able to recoup any losses caused by increased freight rates because they are dealing with fruit that cannot be grown in the South Island. Examples of increases in the price of produce because of a rise in freight rates include: In 1976, it cost a grower 70c to send a 7kg carton of tomatoes from Auckland to Christchurch, this year, sending the same carton of tomatoes costs the grower 87c: A half-case of kiwi fruit from Tauranga to Christchurch cost the grower

$1.34, in 1976 this year, it costs $1.52; A bushel case of grapefruit, also sent from Tauranga, cost the grower $1.95 in 1976, this year, it costs $2.13; In 1976, it cost a grower $1.90 to send a bag of cabbages from Pukekohe to Christchurch, this year, it costs $2.45; A bag of potatoes, also

from Pukekohe, cost the : grower $1.30, in 1976 this year, it costs $1.83. Fruit and vegetables were in plentiful supply at the ’ Christchurch produce markets yesterday and some , new fruit lines have arrived. ’ Some North Island chokos arrived this week and sold at $7 to $8 a bushel. Also from the North Island were some avocados which fetched $25 a carton.

Mandarins, both North Island and Pacific Island vari- ■ eties, are in good supply and ■ are fetching realistic prices i at $6 to $8.50 a half-case. A i consignment of Australian navel oranges and lemons ■ arrived yesterday and will ■ be avilable early next week. > Kiwi fruit and tamarillos are meeting a good demand and prices remain about the 1 same as last week, with the , former selling at $5 to $lO a half-case and the latter at $6 to $lO a half-case. Grapes sold yesterday at $lO to $l5 a 2.5 kg carton. Hot house tomatoes varied in price from $4 to $9.50, and Auckland-grown tomatoes are still expensive at $6.50 to $11.20 a 7kg carton. Mushrooms fetched $3.50 to $4.50 a carton for both open and button varieties. In the vegetable line, cauliflowers dropped in price by about half yesterday from what they were selling at earlier in the week. This is a result of a lot arriving from Stirling and Outram yesterday. These fetched $1 to $2.70 a bag compared with about $4.60 a bag earlier in the week. , Beans were available yesterday and these fetched * $7 a 3.5 kg carton for local ’ varieties and $l5 a carton for imported varieties from ■ the Islands. ! Brussels sprouts are still ; plentiful and fetching a ' strong demand. Yesterday, ; they sold at $1.50 to $4.50 a i bag. Drum head cabbages ‘ sold at $1 to $1.60 a bag, ; savoy cabbages fetched $1.20 I to $1.60 a bag and red cabbages were $1.40 a bag.