Cauliflower supplies scarce; growers between crops

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 19

Cauliflower supplies scarce; growers between crops

Cauliflowers became scarce this week as the flush of the last two weeks began to level off and more growers were between crops. Cauliflowers sold for $9 a bag of eight this week. Prices are likely to remain firm until new crops become available, said a market manager. Oamaru Brussels sprouts were well supplied but only very good lines were selling in any significant numbers. Many poorer lines had spots and yellowness coming through. Carrots varied a lot in price with good lines selling up to $l3, and poorer lines for as little as $6 a bag. Good quality leeks were plentiful as improved weather encouraged more growers out on to the fields to dig them up. They were $lO to $l5 a sidepack.

Hothouse lettuce are especially good value this year. They are expensive at $1 to $l.BO each but, there is little waste when using the crisp large leaves. Nelson outdoor lettuces were a good size at $9 to $l5 a sidepack. The first of the asparagus were at market this week but greater volumes should be available later. Australian beans, courgettes, and capsicums arrived, easing prices slightly but they were still expensive. Blenheim tomatoes became more plentiful helping ease prices which, until this week, remained quite firm. Local fruit are smaller this year with growth limited by lack of sunshine.

Local 4.5 kg cartons were $lB to $27 each, Nelson 4.5 kg cartons $l7 to $25 each, Blenheim

4.5 kg cartons $lB to $27 each, and Auckland 7kg cartons $2l to $4O each.

Broccoli continued to drop in price to $1.50 to $2 a kilogram as more local crops became available, and cabbage remained reasonably priced at 40 cents to $1.15 a head, Savoy $1.25 a head, and red up to $1.50 each. Pumpkins were still plentiful with crown selling at $8 to $lO a bag, and butter nut $l4 a bag. Red kumara firmed slightly to $25 to $2B a carton. Gold was $2B a carton. Kiwifruit is selling well and is good quality in bin and case lots. New Zealand tangelos are at their juiciest, and a manager said you almost needed a bath to eat one in.

New Zealand grapefruit is still available at $l5 to $lB a carton, as were oranges for 70 cents to $1 a kilogram.

Haas avocados were $28.50 to $30.60 a tray, and Fuerte $l5 a tray. Limes were $lB a quartercarton. Australian mandarins arrived on the market floor yesterday and

were selling for $45 a carton.

Passionfruit and tamarillos were popular with passionfruit costing $l2 to $2l a half carton, and $l5 a quarter carton.