UNSTABLE APPLE SUPPLY.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 12

UNSTABLE APPLE SUPPLY.

The Director of the Horticulture Division^ias received the followiug report on the -'conditions of locally grown fruit and vegetables in shops and auction rooms and thej'inarket conditions for the month of Janet— "Wellington: The supply of apples, particularly from, the Nelson' district, was fairlfc heavy during the first fortnight of JuneJ and for fhe rest of the month the market has been practically neglected. Not untU* a Steady regulated supply is avuilable'.. saro the best returns likely to bu secured for the producer.. The present1 month's experience is a concrete example; had^&he heavy supplies .that occurred in early1-Juno been-regulated to cover the ■whole month, stable prices would have resulted. A fair proportion of the fruit—

both apples and pears—are black spot lines. Fancy grade lines are in demand, but are by no means plcntifu!. The supply of vegetables—both root and green— has fallen off, consequently prices are firmer. The topping off of sacks of vegetables has received close- attention, and the position now on the Wellington market ;is showing improvement. Average prices realised for apples 'were from 3s to 6s Od a bushel; pears, 4s to 8s Cd. Lemons, local, 10s to 17s per case; tomatoes, Hutt, round Gs Cd to 7s half case, firm, coloured 5s to 5s Cd half-Case, ripe (is half case; pumpkins, red, 5s to 8s per sack; marrows, 3s per banana case; onions, 7s to 12s per cwt; pickting onions, 6s 6d to 7s Gd per bag; pie melons, 3a per sack; kumcras, 12s to 14s per banana case; potatoes, Dakotas £7 to £9 per-ton, white £6 to £8 per ton; cabbages, choice 6s to 10s per sack, others 3s to 5s per sack; cauliflowers, choice 10s to 12a per sack, others 5s to 7s per sack." ... . • ■ ' . Market Gardeners report values of iruit and produce sold at their Wellington sales yesterday:—Vegetables: Potatoes (South), £8 to £10; onions (Southern), 10s to 11s Cd bag; cauliflower, case 4s to 6s 6d, sack 15s 9d to 20s 6d; cabbage, case 2s Cd to 4s sack 6s 6d to 13s; carrots, case 3s to ss, sack 2s to 7s; swedes, case 2s to 4s 9d; parsnips, case 2s 6d to 3s 6d, sack 3s to 4s 6d; pumpkins,' sacks, 3s to 8s; spinach, case, 3s to 6s; lettuce, case, Is to 7s; sprouts, boxes, 10s to 17s 6d; marrows, cases, 2s Cd to 4s; beetroot cases, 3s to 4s 9d; pickling onions, 5s 6d to ha bag; artichokes, bags, 7e* 6d; leeks, 8d to lOd bunch; rhubarb, 14s to 24s dozen; celery, Is to 4s U bunch; cucumbers, Ca to 10s dozen. Fruit: Apples, Washingtons 5s Od to 7s, Sti.rmers.ss Cd to. Cs 6d, Jonathana 4s to. 5s . 9d, Ballaratts 5s to 7s, other varieties 4s to 6s; tomatoes, 10s to 13s; oranges, Island 10s to 12s, Poorman 10s to 10s.Gd, Californian 40s; lemons, Sydney, 20s.