LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 7, 9 January 1930, Page 12

LOCAL FRUIT PRICES

The director of the Horticulture Division has received the following report from the district fruit inspector on the condition of locally grown fruit and vegetables in shops and auction rooms, and the market conditions for the month of December, 1929:—Early varieties of plums, peaches, and small fruits are now becoming more plentiful. Large shipments of cherries and apricots arrived from Sydney, during the later part of the month. Potatoes have fallen considerably in value owing to the market to some extent being over-supplied. Blight has been showing in several lines from the Auckland district. Old potatoes are now difficult to dispose of at any price. Strawberries from Auckland have been in free supply, the fruit being of good quality and condition, there being almost an entire absence of wet lines so far this season. Feilding strawberries have been outstanding for their quality and flavour, but are much smaller than the Auckland berries. Vegetables have been plentiful, cabbages in over supply •with little demand, consequently glut prices have operated such as 6d per case. Tomatoes are becoming more plentiful daily with prices still firm on account of restricted supply and a pronounced demand for same. Onions from overseas are still plentiful with a normal demand.

The following is a fair average of prices realised: —Apples: Stunners, 11s to 14s per bushel case; Doughertys, 10s to 15s 6d; cookers, 10s to 13s. Pears: P. Barry, 10s to 12s; Winter Nelis, 14s to 16s. Tomatoes: Hutt, lOd to Is 3d per lb; Nelson, 9d to Is Id. Green peas, 8s to 19s per sack. Potatoes: New, Pukekohe, 4s to 8s per I bag; Otaki, 6s to 7s Gd; Hutt, 6s to 7s 6d. Lettuce, Is to 4s per case; cabbage, Is to 4s per case. Cauliflowers, 4s 6d to 8s 6d per sack; 3s to 4s 6d per case; French beans, 6d to lOd per lb. Swedes, 6s to 7s per case. Gooseberries, 3s to 4s per half case. Red currants, 5s to 6s 6d per half case. Plums: Cherry, 2s fid to 4s 6d per half case; bronze, 3s to 4s; Wright's Early, 6s to Bs. Peaches: Le Vanquier, 5s 6d to 6s 6d per half case; Sneeds, 6s to 7s; Mayflower, 8s to 10s.