Glut of nectarines

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 37

Glut of nectarines

Over-supplies of .topquality nectarines are causing concern amongst the wholesale markets.

Supplies of nearly all produce coming to the markets were plentiful, but excessive supplies of nectarines were worrying the market the most

A spokesman for Macfarlane and Growers said that the nectarines were of the most consistent quality for many seasons. Although buyers appeared to have taken advantage of the cheap prices, nectarines were not moving through the markets.

Mr Ron Bainbridge, of Market Gardeners, Ltd, said that good-quality nectarines had reached an over-supply situation and further big supplies were expected. “The supply of this fruit will increase dramatically within the next year or two,” he said.

Growers have expanded the number of nectarine trees in almost eveiy region of New Zealand, including Canterbury. “These plantings are in the early stages now, and as these mature .the volume of their produce is going to increase,” he said.

Hand in hand with the over-supply was the decline in price. Prices have fallen so low that for many growers their returns were no longer economic.

At the market, nectarines fetched between $4 and $7 a case, and nectarines in bulk bins fetched between 40c and 60c a kilogram, depending on quality. In spite of the bountiful supplies of most produce, the market was described as lifeless. The demand for practically every line has declined noticeably and Market Gardeners, Ltd, said business seemed to be much quieter than usual.

Market Gardeners, Ltd, said supplies were arriving at the market all at once and this was because of unfavourable weather during planting last year.

“There has not been the same opportunity to stagger the crops this year, because of the late planting,” said Mr Bainbridge.

The only exceptions to

the market depression this : week were apricots and leeks. Prices remained high as the apricot season tailed off. Apricots fetched between $l.l and $16.80 a case. Macfarlane and Growers said although supplies were continuing to come to the market, this would be the last week of any large quantities.

Most arriving on the market were better suited as dessert apricots rather than bottling varieties. Plenty of bottling peaches were still coming forward, but the late season plum varieties were more suitable as dessert fruit. Peaches fetched between. $3 and $6 a case and J 'plums between $3 and $lO a case. Early-season leeks also sold well, and fetched between $5.60 and $6.60 a small case.

Supplies of some lines were particularly high, especially potatoes, as growersi reaped the benefits of the rain a week ago. Yields a hectare were; well up, and plentiful supplies from Canterbury and Southland flooded the market. < Avocados and rock and’ water melons also increased in quantity over all the season. Mr Gary McNicholl, of Market Gardeners, Ltd, said “We have sold more avocados -this year than ever before.”

He said that when the price dropped sharply on avocados two weeks ago, it gave consumers a chance to try these and they have been buying steadily since. Some lines of produce did only reach average supplies and these included spinach, broccoli and sweet corn. Macfarlane and Growers said the bean season may not last much longer. Sweet corn supplies were coming entirely from a local source as the early season Nelson corn finished. Late-seasoh Nelson corn isstill expected, however. Recommended best buys this week include most stone fruit, tomatoes, aubergines, watermelon, kumara, early apples and

cauliflowers. Home preservers of stone fruit and pears should be.very busy this time of the year making the most of good supplies, top quality and economic prices. Quantities of outdoor tomatoes were arriving at the market in excellent quality. Hot-house tomatoes were also plentiful. Local fetched between $2 and $6 a 4.5 kg carton. Kakanui tomatoes fetched $5.50 a 4.5 kg carton and Nelson varieties between $2 and $5 a carton. •

Outdoor varieties were available between $2 and $5 a 4.5 kg carton. Cucumbers remained in heavy supply, with shorts fetching between 10c and 30c each, telegraph between 50c and $l, and apple between. 10c and 15c. ;

Top-quality huge aubergines were also available between $1 and $1.50 each. Water melon fetched between 40c and 60c a kilogram. Large stocks of kumara continued to arrive on the market, and although the price dropped on last week’s, Marked Growers, Ltd said the price would continue to fall. Kumara fetched between $25 and $3O a 19kg carton at the market Macfarlane and Growers reported the quality of early-season apples, such as the Albany and Oratia Beauty and the Gravenstein, as being fantastic so far this season.

Cauliflowers, too were recommended and fetched between $4 and $7 a bag of eight.

New-season lines to come to market were, parsnips, Chinese cabbage and autumn raspberries. Autumn raspberries are a vaiety quite distinct from early season varieties. Macfarlane and Growers said they were darker in colour and distinctly furrier.

New lines to be recently introduced this week were plantain bananas and drinking coconuts. Macfarlane and Growers said the plantain banana, from the islands, is best used for cooking. It looks like a bloated banana, but cooks best when it is still green. It is suggested that these be boiled in the skin, then mashed with coconut and taro.

Drinking coconuts are not often imported and are easily recognised by the hard outer shell, which must be broken open to drink the milk and eat the soft flesh. Next week, Macfarlane and Growers expect to see fingerling bananas and Worcester Pearmain apples. The passionfruit season should be well under way with full supplies coming through in a couple of weeks.