Exports push prices up

Press, 27 July 1989, Page 16

Exports push prices up

Cabbage and pumpkin prices finned slightly this week as some crops were exported to Australia to supplement a shortage, after bad wetaher set Australian crops back several weeks.

This would be a temporary shortage, however, until Queensland crops were ready for harvest, a market auctioneer said. Butternut fetched $lO to $l4 an 18kg bag and crown was up to $lO a 30kg bag. Drumhead, savoy, and red cabbage were up to $1 each. Chinese was $lO a case.

Root crops were slightly short this week, frosts preventing digging, while more perishable local lines, such as silverbeet, spinach, parsley and broccoli also suffered the effects of the frosts.

Broccoli was largely

supplemented from Auckland and Palmerston North. Prices were up to $4.55 a kilogram for broccoli, $lO to $l5 a case for silverbeet, and $lO a case for spinach. Onion quality varied, most buyers vying for top quality onions. Table were $9 to $ll a kilogram, jumbo $l2 to $l4, picklers about $5, and reds $2 to $6 a kilogram. The supply of Oamaru Brussels sprouts started to shorten this week because of weather and the end of the season. These were $1.50 to $2.20 a kilogram.

Lettuces from Nelson were not available in as great a quantity as normal for this time of the year, frosts holding up outdoor crops. Hothouse lettuces were $1.20 to $2 each and Oamaru lettuces $5 to $l2 a case.

American Santa Rosa plums and May Diamond nectarines arrived yesterday and should be available in most shops this morning. These added colour and variety and were a reminder of the approaching summer stone-fruit season. . In addition to these were watermelon and honeydew melon from Australia. Watermelon was $3.20 a kilogram, and honeydew ranged from $4.50 to $7.50 each. Pineapples were of a good size at $2 to $2.80 each. New Zealand lemons are now at peak volume and some shops are selling them for less than $1 a kilogram. On the market floor yesterday they cost about 50 cents to $1 a kilogram. Other New Zealand citrus was also plentiful,

oranges fetching $2O to $22 a case, mandarins from 90 cents to $l.BO a kilogram and grapefruit $l2 to $l5 a case. Limes were more expensive at $6 a kilogram. Excellent quality tamarillos are still available for $1.20 to $2.60 a kilogram. Tomatoes were fetching high prices as supplies remained limited. Local crops ranged from $l6 to $26 a 4.5 kg carton, Nelson tomatoes were $l4 to $26 a 4.5 kg carton, Blenheim tomatoes were $lB to $27 a 4.5 kg carton, and Auckland tomatoes 7kg cartons were $2l to $35 each.

Apple and pear prices remained unchanged with the exception of a new addition to the variety of pears available this week. Winter Cole pears have arrived and sold for up to

$24.90 an 18kg crate. Today’s recipe Swede Bake 2cups cooked mashed swede. 3 tbsp butter. 2 tbsp golden syrup. 1 cup fresh white bread- . crumbs. 2 eggs. Grated cheese. Chopped parsley. Salt and pepper. Method: Add butter and golden syrup to swede plus salt and pepper, and 3/Jc of breadcrumbs. Add beaten egg and parsley. Place in a shallow dish. Bake at about 180 deg. Celsius for 20 minutes. Dot with butter and sprinkle over rest of breadcrumbs. Top with grated cheese and brown under grill.