Unseasonable weather takes toll on vegetables

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 30

Unseasonable weather takes toll on vegetables

The unseasonal cool weather appears to be taking its toll on the sales of some salad vegetables in Canterbury. One market said that Canterbury lettuces were very plentiful, but demand was poor for the time of year. Many consumers have lettuces in their own gardens, and the rain only contributes to better growth of these home-cultivated vegetables.

Sales of tomatoes are also flat, despite reasonable prices at both market and retail level. They are fetching about $3 to $4 less a carton than they were last year, with Can-

terbury produce selling for $9.80 to $ll a 4.5 kg box; Nelson, $9 to $10; and Auckland, $l3 a 7kg box. Some growers have expressed concern that returns may not meet production costs, however, prices are likely to take a rise near Christmas. Most vegetables were in full supply this week, except for cauliflowers. Cauliflowers have been scarce for some time, but quantities should increase from next week as more growers harvest their produce.

Cabbages ■■ remain cheap, at $2 to $3.50 a bag of eight. Some supermar-

kets even ran specials this week featuring them for as low as one cent each. According to one market, cabbages fetched high prices last year and many growers decided to plant crops this year because they are easier to grow than cauliflowers. Spring vegetables, such as beetroot, courgettes, marrow and celery, are becoming more plentiful and prices have eased. Canterbury bunched carrots, from 50 to 70 cents a bunch, are popular. The first of the region’s new bagged carrots should be available next week to join consignments from Pukekohe and

Levin. A different variety of new potato has appeared to create some interest in the struggling potato scene. The Mains Anchor is a Canterbury-grown potato with a nice flavour. Scallopinis have been a rare sight in recent weeks, although a few yellow and green ones have come from the North Island. A Canterbury grower Is expected to begin supplying the markets next week. Some good quality aubergines from Fiji and Australia were also available. Although there has been very little produce from Fiji, this Is typical

for the time of year. Raspberries, $2 to $2.30 a punnet, and boysenberries, $1.50 a punnet, are the latest addition to the new season’s fruit Quantities of these are still small but will continue to increase. Cherries were slightly scarce as a result of rain in Central Otago. The Otago growers had only just begun picking their fruit, and markets are continuing to rely on Blenheim for the bulk of cherries. The two varieties are Bedfords, $3 to $3.50 a kilogram, and Mortens, $5 to $6 a kilogram. The Mortens are a larger cherry. Peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums from Hawke’s Bay were all plentiful. There were some Australian apricots earlier in the week, but further consignments are unlikely now that New Zealand supplies have increased. The Australian fruit were small and sweet, although lacking the usual red colour. The arrival of the stonefruit has pulled interest from the' apple scene. The last shipment of American red delicious fetched $37 an 18kg crate, while democrats, which are also scarce, were $16.30 a 15kg carton. Controlled atmosphere Granny Smiths from America will arrive within the next few weeks to join those already being supplied by New Zealand growers. After weeks of being labelled as "the buy of the fruit scene,” avocado prices have finally taken a rise. Supplies are shortening and the main variety available is the Hass.

Consignments of produce from Australia have fallen as the New Zealand growers begin picking their new season’s fruit

and vegetables. Capsicum and eggplant, along with the more exotic rockmelon, $42 to $4B a carton of 15 to 24, honeydew, $3O to $32 a carton of 24, and watermelon, $1 a kilogram, are the few lines still being Imported. One market is anticipating that North Island watermelon and rockmelon could arrive much earlier than usual, perhaps in the week before Christmas. This would see a further decline in the amount of Australian produce. FLOWERS Pre-arranged posies of carnations, chrysanthemums, roses and other flowers proved very popular this week. The flower auctioneer at Macfarlane and Growers, Mr Tim Armstrong, said that New Zealand seemed to be following the European trend, where demand for take-home posies was so great that people are employed just to make them up. The posies put together by Canterbury growers fetched from $1 to $1.50 each, depending on what was in them.

Calla lilies, $1.50 to $3.50 a bunch, and sweet peas in white, mauve and pink, $1.50 to $2.50 a bunch, are both selling well.

The first of the Christmas lilies from tunnel houses appeared in the market about four weeks ago, and the outdoor lilies are now beginning to take their place. . Christmas lilies need to be picked as soon as the bud begins showing pink, and those in the market this week were of a very good quality.

Proteas are a flower which seems to have lost favour with the public. Mr Armstrong said that this could be because the

large flowers tended to dominate a living room, however one or two in a jar or bowl can produce an interesting effect Proteas are also long lasting, with a life of up to three months once cut if they are well cared for.