CHEAP FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 87, 6 January 1933, Page 10

CHEAP FRUIT

Raspberries Abundant WELLINGTON MARKETS Raspberries, peaches, plums, and black currants are available at tempting prices in the Wellington fruit markets, mid people who require quantities for preserving or jam making will find Hint most fruits are offering at rates which are well below the luxury level. Lettuce, cauliflower, and potatoes are also being disposed of at prices which repay the inconvenience of transporting bulky supplies from the' vegetable market. ... The holiday'period, which suspended activities in fflte fruit and vegetable markets, has resulted in it large supply of raspberries of excellent quality cpming forward, and these are selling at a price that should be a boon to the domestic jam-maker. Tins containing 161 b to 111 b of beautiful fruit have been selling in the markets in Blair Street at 4/6. and after tlie retailers have been supplied queues of private people usually line up to secure one or two tins for home use. The heavy rain which fell just after Christmas Day has been of great value to market gardeners, and fruit and vegetables have responded to it by making, wonderful growth. Those who have been looking forward to a second crop of strawberries coming on to tlie market for jam purposes are likely to be disappointed. A Wellington merchant said yesterday that the Nelson growers had np't paid much attention to jam strawberries this season. It was expected that some supplies would come to hand, but the quantity would not be large. reaches and plums are plentiful, the former fetching from 4/6 to 5/6 a case, a price at which it pays to bottle or preserve. Plums also are plentiful, and they range from 2/6 to 7/- a case, according to the variety. Black currants are now in, and they are selling at 6/6 a case of-18 to 201 b. Apricots are nearly over, although small quantities may come to hand from Greytown and Motueka. The quality has not been so good this season. Lettuce, cauliflowers, etc., are iu shell abundance'that the former can be had at 9d and 1/- a case, and cauliflowers or greens at 1/6. Potatoes are only.realising 2/6 to 3/6 for a bag of. abdut a hundredweight, Peas are retailing, at 1-Jd and 2d a lb, but are much cheaper when two or three people make a joint purchase, since the average price per pound varies according to the size of tlie bag. ■ ■.