FRUIT TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 64, 17 March 1927, Page 11

FRUIT TRADE.

cnUm.nP'i?-ai:t' ue? t of (HortU cultural Division), in a special report on Domi^ a°/ ve£ e*able trade °f the whol* JJommion for February, states at W.l' lington that apples, most of• immaVure: and interior quality and small in sfee, have been m heavy supply, with only a fair de^ niand existing, the preferred sizes beine conspicuous by their absence. Pears rf excellent quality have been in good supply., there being very little black spot .-or blemished fruit on the market. There has' been a decided shortage of stone fruit' irom all sources this season, particularly! apricots from Otago. In the Otago apricots a fair amount o£ brown rot was in i evidence m the early consignments, but: during the last few weeks this fruit has; been practically free from same. Thia: seasons jitone fruit on the whole has been' marketed in a firm and excellent condition, the short supply causing a good deal! of disappointment. Tomatoes hare been', only m fair supily. The usual slut-ex-perienced when the bulk of the outdoorgrown crop matures has not so far been! experienced, consequently the grower hasJ benefited by good prices. The quality has: been good and the fruit firm. Potatoes: have not fared well on account of the dry! season. A good deal of bKght has beefai showing m North Island lS.es,; together^ with wet or brown rot. With re^rd id! the, regulations concerning the fair pack- 1, ™g f° i, rUL* and v?e etabfes, an improvement has been noticed in the packing of; f°tf°e^ Average prices realised for Feb-: i" a'y .^.^-/PPles, Gravenstein, fancy,: * n tt£ 1s 6d per case; others. 5s to 9s; Worcester Pearmain, fancy, 6e to 12s 6d; others, 5s to 10s; Cox's Orange: i"ipn., fancy, 6s 6d to 7s 6d; others, 5s to 5s 6d; Delicious, fancy, 7s to 8s; others . 6s to 6s 6d; Jonathan, fancy, 7s to Ba';--others, 6s to 6s 6d; Astrakan, fancy, 10s' to 11s; others, Bs, to 9s; Cookers, fancy,' 5s to 7s 6d; others, 3s 6d to Ss. Pears, 1 William 8.C., fancy, 7s 6d to 10s; others,! 4s 6d to -6s; Jerseys, 5s to 6s; Vicars, ss' to 5s 6d; Clairgeau, 5s to 5s 6d. Apricot*, i choice, 11s to 13s per half case; others, i Ss to 11s. Peaches, choice, 8s to lla"; i others, 6s 6d to 8s; cooking, choice, 8s; to lls; others, 6s 6d to 7s 6d. Plum*,; Burbank, 6s to 10s; October Purple, 4s 6dl to 8s; Blue Diamond, 5s 6d to 6s 3d; Ogon,; 4s 9d to 5s 6d; Satsuma, choice, 9s toj lls; prunes, 4s Cd to ss; Orleans, 4b to 6s 6d; Greengages, 9s to lls. Nectarines, choice, 8s to 13s; others, 6s to 7s. Grape*,' Hutt, Is 2d to Is lOd per lb; Nelson, Ik! to Is 6d; Auckland, Is Gd to Is Bd. Rasp berries, Greytown, 8s 6d to 10b a bucket,;' Nelson, 5s 6d to 8s 6d. Tomatoes, well: coloured, Hutt hothouse, 4s 6d to 15s per.! half case; others, Hutt, 3s 6d to 12»V| outdoor, well coloured, 4s to lls 6d; out-: door others, 2s 6d to 8s 6d. Cucumbers,' 8s to 10s per bushel case. Onions, South crn, £7 to £8 a tori. Potatoes, Hutt 1 graded, £7 to £10. Others, £4 to f 7. :