THE MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 11

THE MARKETS

SPRING SUPPLIES

OLD POTATOES UNWANTED

As far as fruit is concerned the Wellington markets are very quiet at the present time but supplies f~f spring vegetables are up to requirements, returns to the growers being good. Supplies of new potatoes are now equal to the demand, and as a result last season's crop, which reached record prices a few weeks ago, is now not popular, supplies being difficult to quit. The quality of last year's potatoes reaching the market is good for this time of the year but the demand has fallen off to such an extent that the record prices of £19 a ton has declined until merchants have difficulty in selling at £12. New potatoes, mostly from Pukekohe, are of good quality and first-grade lines are bringing from 2d to 2|d a pound. Secondgrade lines are slightly lower. Supplies of green spring vegetables from the Hutt Valley, the Manawatu, Masterton, and Ohakune are plentiful but values are keeping up well, the demand being considerable. Onions are easier again, the Californian supplies realising about £19 a cental. FRUIT SUPPLIES. Fruit supplies are practically limited to apples and pears from cool store as the Auckland strawberries have been held back by wet weather this year. A few gooseberries have already come forward and realised about 7d a pound, but satisfactory supplies of small fruits will not come in for some time yet. The first stone fruits are expected towards the end of the month. ■ ' ■ .. Lemons are still plentiful, good-qual-ity lines selling" at' low 'rates, but oranges and bananas are maintaining usual values. The last shipment of South Australian oranges will reach New Zealand by the Waitaki on November 7, and after they are disposed of supplies will have to be drawn from Jamaica and California. A few Island oranges are still coming in but the season for them is almost over.

" ■ Although large supplies, of poultry are coming forward at the present time, values are keeping up, being considerably better than is usual at this time of the year.