FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 19764, 14 January 1928, Page 3

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros,, Ltd,, report as follows for week ended to-day:—

Very little interest is being displayed in the produce market of late. The market is fairly bare of supplies of good quality chaff, but feeders .seem to hold sufficient stocks, and any good lines coming forward are not readily sold. Tho value of best quality is round about £5 lOs per ton (sacks extra, ex truck). Most of the supplies are coming from Canterbury. Tho oat market remains quiet, with very poor inquiry, and holders are not showing a desire to quit at present quotations, which are 3s 5d per bushel (f.0.b.) for A grade and 3s 2d for B grade. The wheat market is also steady. Millers are holding fair supplies. The first of the new season’s crop is expected to reach the Canterbury market in February, and a few sales have been recorded for delivery round about 5s lOd per bushel for Tuscan (on trucks, sacks extra). The local stocks of fowl wheat are on the light side, but the market is quiet. Best quality is worth round about 7s per bushel. Millers’ prices arc as followFlour—2oo’s £l7 ss, 100’s £lB ss, 60’s £lB IPs. 26’s £l9; oatmeal 200’« £lB, 25’s £l9: bran, £6: pollard, £B.

The potato market is casing. Old potatoes are now finished, and now_season’s are coming in more freely. Some first-class lines arc coming from the Peninsula and Outram districts, and are selling round about 2d per lb. Supplies from Canterbury are also coming forward more freely, but the quality is not as goixl as the local grown. The onion market is keeping steady, and prices are moderate. Business in the fruit mart has been brisk during the week. Large quantities of cherries and stone fruit arc now starting to come forward. Strawberries have been in short supply. Raspberries are now coming forward in fair quantities. Poaches and apricots have also started, and it is reported that the crops are better than usual. There is a good demand for stone fruit. A few loganberries have also come forward. Jam makers should watch the supplies, and secure their fruit while available, as the supply of strawberries in particular has not been equal to tho demand for jam-making. Imported fruits have been in short supply, lemons in particular being very scarce and high in price. Tomatoes arc starling to come !orward in larger quantities, and everything points to prices easing. Outside grown are offering, but they are of poor sou’s apples are now finished. American grown arc offering, bn they arc of poor quality. Vegetables have been offering more freely. Pens and cabbage have boon very slow of sale, and prices arc no good to the grower. The egg market is keeping steady, and any lines offering aro readily placed. Hams and baron are in good simply, and cheese is selling more freely. The following prices were realised during the week :

Section honey, 9s to 10s 6d Cucumbers, 5s fid lo IBs Gd.

Lettuce, Is 3d to 2s Gd case. Cabbage (sales slow) to 3s dozen. Cauliflower (sales slow), 2s Gd to ss. Eggs.—Cased, Is sd; stamped, Is Gd. Butter.—Bulk. Is 2d; separator, Is 3d. Honey.—Bulk. s,’cl; 101 b tins, 5s 6d, Gs 3d; 21b pottles. Is 3d. Gooseberries, I’d to 2ld. Rhubarb, 2Jd to 3Jd. Green peas, lid to 2d. New potatoes. Ijd to I’lcL Walnuts, 10d. Peanuts, scl. Tomatoes. Christchurch, Iljd; medium. 7,]d to 10d; small. 4d to Cd; local, Tl-ijd to Is 2d. Cheese.—Mediums, 9d; loaf. IGpl. Beeswax. Is 6d. Macon.—Hitchon’s, Is. Bacon Pigs.—Prime. 6jd ; porkers, Old: heavy-weights. 4.]d to Gd. Strawberries. Is 2d to Is 10d pottle. Cherries, B{d to 1s 6d lb. Apples.—Stunners, 14s 6d. Plums, 3]d to GjkJ lb. Apricots, s|d to Pld lb. Peaches, 4jd to BJd. Raspberries to 10fd. Bananas.—Ripe, 35s Gd. Lemons.—Californian, 62s 6d. Oranges.—American Valencias. 6135. Potatoes, £5 per ton. Oatsheaf Chaff.—Choice to £3 ss; on (straw chaff, £3 ss. Bran, £6. Pollard, £8 10s. May.—Clover. 85s; oat straw to 755; wheat straw to 60s ton. Strawberry pottles. 60s to 65s per thousand,