FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 5

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Bray Bros, (of Duncdin), Ltd., report as fallows for the week ended today:— All lines of produce are firm in "price. Consignments of chaff have been very small, and all prime lines have been easily placed. Stocks are short on the local market, but inquiries from the North Island have fallen off 'lately, and, according to reports, the market has been over sapplied. Goc-tl quality has been selling from £8 to £8 10s (sacks extra), ex truck. Fowl wheat is practically unprocurable, and keepers of pultry have been. forced to use oats, the demand for which has been pretty brisk. The millers are keen buyers of all lines offering. The maiket should be better supplied later on, as thrashing is now general on the Tnieri and also at Milt On. The Taieri crop, especially, has been re)>orted to be a very good one, and the quality excelllent. Shipping has been very quiet, there being'no inquiries from the north for prompt shipment. Oood supplies of potatoes havo been coining forward, and naturally prices have dec'ined. It is reported that growers are pushing on the digging on account of, b'iiiht appearing on tho crops. That applies chiefly to potatoes from the north. The onion market has eased, as large consignments have been coming forward. Eggs have been short of supply, and prices have ik'n:cd up again. Milled butter has been inqu'red for, but there is very little, if any, offering on the market. Bacon is a little more plentiful, and all coming forward is readily picked up at Is Sd per lb. The supply of fruit from Central Otago has eased during the week, and pears are practically finished. There has been n big glut of these, this year., and they proved not' nearly as good keepers as previous years. The supply of plums has fallen cff. but there is a good demand for them. Greengages ore. asked for, but are unprocurable. Very little fruit has come in this week from the Nelson district owing to lack of shipping. Dessert apples from Cantei'bmy in sjrne. instances have' been affected with bitter pit, and these had to be cleared at a few shillings per case. The low price affects the prices obtained for sound quality. Cooking apples have been more plentiful, and prices have eased considerably. Peaches are now practically off the market. Fair supplies of grapes have been arriving from the northern districts, ancl good prices have been realised, but tho crop is now pretty well inched. Cantcrburv-grown potatoes have come forward in large consignments, and prices have cased slightly, but, nevorthcles. all lines have been cleared up. Smalt consignments of beans, carrots, and parsnips havo beer, coming forward, and met with ready sale. Carrots and parsnips are asked for. Swedes have started to show in this market, and we learn that the crop this year is a g >od one. 'there is a good demand for dairy butter, beeswax, honey, and eggs. Quotations :

Wheat, 7s to 9s. Sparrow bill outs, 5s 6d. Oats.—Feed Gartons, 4s 6d to ss. Chaff.—Prime oaten, £3 to £8 10s. Flour, £l6 10s. Bran, 7s 1001b. Pollard, 14s ICOlb. Pearl Bar:ev. £52 10s. Oatmeal, £3O. Ilitchon's bacon, Is 3d lb. Oaten straw, £4 15s. Whenten straw, £4. Beeswax (wanteds, 2s 4d. Hcnev.—Sections, 14s do/,; bulk. 7d to Bd. Butter.—Creamery pats, 3s Is s|d; dairy and separator, Is sd; milled bulk, Is 6d. App'e.?.—Cox's Orange, 6s to 8s ; cookers, 4s 6d to 7s ; ribstones, 6s to Bs. Pears, 2s to 4s. Grapes, _ls to Is 4d. Plums, 5s to 6s. Nectarines, 4d to 6d. Fiji bananas, 153 to 20-=. Oranges.—Sydney, 23s to 255; S.A. Queen, 33s ;• Valencias, 35s to 455. Lemons.—American, 35s ; Australian 22s 6d. Walnuts (choice). Is 4d. Potatoes, £7 to £B. Cauliflowers. 6s to 9s bag. Onions, lis 9d to 13s cwt; 20s cwt. ' s ' Lettuce, 2s to 3s. Peas, 2d to 2-^d. French beans, 3d to 4d. Cabbage, 2s to 5s bag. Tomatoes.—Local hothouse, 6d ; Christchurch, lid to 2-jd : Nelson colored, 3s to 4s; green, 2s to 3s. Swedes, £6 ton. Vegetable marrows (wanted), 7s to 9s sack. Peaches, 3d to 4d. Blackberries, 5d to 7d. Cucumbers, 3s to 5s case. Brussel sprouts (wanted). Parsnips (wanted). Carrots, 9s cwt. Eggs.—Stamped, 2s 8d; cased, 2s 7d. Pigs-—Best baconers. Hid; best porkers, Is Id ; overweight, lOd.