NEW ZEALAND FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 15

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT

THE TAINUI APPLES

PEAKS NOT' SATISFACTORY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 4th April.

Unfortunately tho prices obtained on the first day for the Tainui shipment of Now Zealand apples were not maintained. Worcesters made from 14s to 16s, Gravensteins Its, and Alfristons 14s. This week, however, the prices for Worcesters have dropped back by 2s a case, Gravensteins by 2s to 2s Cd a case, while Alfristons, which havo maintained their condition well, have gone back only Is.

On tho market at present there are 'tremendous quantities of wine saps, practically all from' the United States. These are being so sold at 8s and 9s a box, and are likely 'to be in good supply for another two months. The average weely "supply from North Atlantic ports is .34,000 boxes, while from Pacific ports the weekly shipment has been 90,000 boxes. At tho present time shipments afloat from the Pacific Coast for Great Britain amount to 230,----000 boxes and 140,000 boxes for the Continent. Apples in barrels from America are arriving at the rate of 70,000 barrels a week. American shippers have an unpleasant habit of retaining their long spread apples so that' very large quantities arrive in Great Britain at the same time as ,the Dominion, apples. Just at this time the public are getting tired of the American apples, and prices for them drop considerably. The Empire produce arrives on the scene, and the habit of buying apples is renewed. As a large section of the public are not discriminating, American shippers par. tieipate iii the. general uplift in prices. Naturally this cheaper stored material has.the tendency to drag down the prices of the better fruit. With the Tainui there arrived also 85 packages of Beurre d'Amanli pears from Nelson. They were not in good condition, a proportion of them being "sleej^y"—a trade term used indicating that the outer flesh has become flowery and the centre gone bad. Those sold at'-from 4s Bd to 6s 6d a bundle. There appears to be little chance for New Zealand pears this season, as there is a very large crop of splendid South African pears. Louise Bonnes are selling for 2s 8d per tray (three in a bundle), and half-boxes are making from 4s to 4s 3d. At tho end of- the season New Zealand pears may havo a better chance.