FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 17401, 10 July 1920, Page 9

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Bray Bros, (of Dimedin). Ltd., report as follows for the week ended July 10 :

A few consignments of chaff h«tve come forward dining the week, but the demand is purely local, shipping space to the North being unobtainable. Prime is worth £3 Ss to £8 10s ex truck, Dunediii. Medium is slow of sale. The oat market is quiet, with prices a little easier. A Gavtons are worth about Ss lid f.o.b. s.L. and B's about 2d per bushel less. Farmers are asking somewhere about 5s <m trucks s.e., but there is little business passing at this figure. There are small inquiries "for shipment, and the local millers are operating in smalfejots. There is practically no milling wheat offering. Fowl wheat is also off the market, and all millers' lines remain lirm at quotations. and it is understood that some millers have received offer* for increased prices for shipment to the North, but the quantity is not available.

During the week business has been brisk in the fruit marts, particularly with overseas fruits. Local-grown apple's have been slow of sale., heaw consignments coming forward, and the market weakened considerably on account of most of the lines showing deterioration. Good sound fruit realises good prices, but medium or second grade are difficult to quit and prices poor. Fair quantities of Australian fruit- are arriving by each boat. The demand is good, and high prices rule for all lines arriving in good order. Marmalade oranges are now* starting to show on the market, but prices are high in comparison to ether .years. Fiji bananas are short of supply, and the cost of railing, ferrying, and railing them from the North, which means 7a to 8s per case, as against 2s getting them by steamer, makes them prohibitive. The potato market lias eased, although good, clean Taieri potatoes are still bringing up to £8 per ton. Northerns are offering from £6 to £7. There are some fine samples of Erin Chiefs coming into the market this year. This variety seems to be taking the place of Up to .Dates. The onion market is weak, owing to the poor keeping qualities. Most of the growers complain * this year of not being able_ to get- the weather suitable for harvesting, which means that later on onions must firm up. Rood lines of Swedo turnips are coming forward, and this popular vegetable is meeting -with good demand at "5s per cwt. The market is well supplied with carrots, parsnips, cabbage, and prices are reasonable. Honey lias moro inquiry, and the market is a little firmer. Eggs are in better supply. : stamped and guaranteed selling at 2s 4d! Vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and pie melons ara wanted. I

_ T4ie following prices were realised during the week : Wheat, 8s 3d. Sparrowbill oats, 5s 6d. Oats. 5s to 5s 6d. , Chaff.—Prime oaten, £8 5s to £8 10s Flour. £l7. Bran, 9s 3d 1001b. Pollard, 14s 6d 1251b. Pearl barlev, £32 10a. Oatmeal. £sl. Oaten straw, £4 15s to £5 10s; wheaten, £4 10s. 'Beeswax (wanted), 2s 4d to 2s 6d. Honey.—Sections. 14s dozen: bulk" 7d to Bd. Hitchon's bacon. Is 6d. Cheese.—Mild and matured. HJ-d. Butter.—Creamery pats. Is 7|d; ere'amery bulk. Is 7d: milled bulk. Is 6d; dairv aad separator. Is sd. Apples.—Jonathans. 4s od to 10s 6d; Sturniers. 9s to lis; Delicious, 10s to 14s ; cookers, 5s to 7s. Pears. 2d to 4d. Bananas, 20s to 30s. Pineapples, 26s to 33s -6d. Passion fruit. Sydnfcv, wanted. Mandarins, 20s to 295. Oranges.-*-Sydnev. 26s to 30s: Island 20s. •' Lemons.—American, 52s 6d; Auckland, 18s 6d to 245. Walnuts, choice. Is 4d. Cocoa-nuts, 22s 6d sack. Potatoes, £5 to £B. Cauliflowers, 3s 6d to 9s 6d. Cabbage,. 2s to ss. Onions.—Table, lis to 12s; pickling. 8s cwt. French beans (wanted^. Tomatoes. —Local hothouse, Is 4d to Is Bd. Sw*de turnins, £3 to £3 10s. Vegetable marrows, 9s to 12s. Pic melons (wanted). Pumpkins, 9s ewfc. Carrots, 7s cwt. Eggs.—Stamped. 2s 4d; cased, 2-s Id. Pigs.—Best porkers, Is; best baconers, lOd ;"overweigb.t, 9d.