FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 21630, 27 January 1934, Page 10

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Messrs Bray' Bros. Ltd. report as '•follows for the week ended to-day:— Millers are now waiting the arrival of the new season’s Canterbury wheat, of which conflicting reports are being received regarding probable yields and quantities. It, will not be long before threshing is commenced, and the spell of ,dry weather in the northern province proved very acceptable. So far •as the Otago district is concerned, the crops will vary’. On the Taieri good yields are expected, but in Central Otago dry weather conditions have affected the growth to a considerable extent. The fowl wheat market is steady, supplies being obtained from the Wheat Purchase Board. Business is mostly confined to sales of small lines, for which 4s 3d to 4s 6d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store, is obtainable. The oat market continues quiet. There are practically- no inquiries for prompt delivery, and, moreover, both buyers and sellers prefer to wait until supplies of the new season’s oats come on the market before quoting for delivery ahead. A Gartons for prompt delivery are worth 2s 5d per bushel, f.0.b.5.i., and B’s 2s 3d. The quotation for forward delivery is about Id per bushel above the foregoing figures. The turnover in chaff continues small, only- an occasional line being sold ex the store. As most of the local requirements are being drawn from Canterbury the Ideal market is firmer. Small lots ex Dunedin stores are, however, still purchasable at £4,5s per ton, sacks extra.

Millers’ prices are as follow: Flour—2oo’s £l4 2s, 100’s £l4 17s, 50’s £ls 2s, 25’s £ls 7s. Bran, £5. ■ Pollard, £6. Oatmeal—2oo’s £l6, 25’s £lB. The local market has been considerable over-supplied with potatoes during the past week and at this time of the year when' householders are digging their own potatoes, the demand is confined to small Jots only. Prices have eased and sales! have been made down to £6 per ton, sacks in, in order to effect a clearance. A fair amount of interest is being displayed in the forward market and sales have been made for shipment to the North Island, April-May delivery at £3 15s per ton, South Island ports. The above price is equal to £3 per ton sacks in, on trucks. .

Merchants' are now waiting for the new season’s seeds to come on the market. Threshing has commenced in Canterbury and reports from there go to show that the yield of rye grass will be light. . The seed being offered is also light. Indications all point to the clover and cocksfoot crops being on the light side. New season’s apples are in good supply, the fruit coming mainly from Nelson. Gravensteins, Beauty of Barth, and Red Astrachan are main varieties on offer. Jargonelle pears are how on the market. ;• . Lemons are in short supply. New Zealand grown realise high prices. Raspberries are in over-supply and sales are hard to make, unless for the best quality. Prices for even choice lines cannot show growers any margin of profit. Loganberries are also on offer at low rates. The' banana market is well supplied. A shipment of Tongan bananas came forward during the week and the Maui Pomare’s consignment of Samoan and Niue Island grown arrived yesterday. The fruit is in excellent condition. A lino of Fijis will arrive in Auckland about next Tuesday. Oranges are in short supply, Californians realising high prices. Apricots were offering at low rates early in the week, but with the slackened supply the market has firmed. Moorparks in crates realised up to 6d lb during the week. Peaches are _in good supply and cookers are offering at low rates. There is a better demand for lines of choice dessert. Tomatoes are in good supply and the market remains steady. Small lots of outside grown are now arriving' from Christchurch. Cherries and strawberries are finished for the season. Jam plums have been in heavy supply with low prices ruling; Choice dessert have a good demand. We received a very fine sample of Burbanks grown by Mr E. l L. King of Avoca Valley and these realised a satisfactory price. Green peas of best quality arc readily placed. Poor quality are unsaleable. French and runner beans have a good demand. Broad beans are hard to place. Other vegetables are plentiful, with low prices ruling. There is a good inquiry for hothouse cucumbers and grapes. . . , The following prices were realised during the week;— Apples, wanted.-rGravensteins, 6s 6d to 9s y Beauty of Bath, 8s 6d to 10s 6d. Apricots.—Choice, 2id to 4Jd lb; cases, 3s 6d to 5s 3d. , Peaches —Choice, 2id to 3Jd lb; cases, 3s to 4s 9d. Plums, Ifd to 2Jd ! lb. , Strawberries, lOd to Is Id pottle. Gooseberries, Id to IJd lb. Raspberries, 4£d to 7Jd pottle; 3s 6d to 6s bucket. Loganberries, to 5s bucket. Red currants, 3id to 4£d lb. Black currants, 2d to 3d lb. Tomatoes,—Local, BJd to' lid lb; Christchurch, 6d to 9d. lb. Hothouse grapes, Is 5d to Is 9d lb. American grapes, 26s case. Californian Valencies, 37s 6d case. Californian grapefruit, 37s 6d case. Queensland pines, 20s case. New Zealand lemons, 17s to 24s case. Californian lemons, 52s 6d double case. Bananas.—Ripe, 27s 6d case. Rhubarb, Id lb'. Cucumbers, to 7s ,dozen. Marrows, to 3d lb. Green peas, Id to 2d lb. French beans, 2Jd to 4d lb. Runner beans, 3d lb. Broad beans, to lid lb. Lettuce.—Choice, to Is dozen. Local Potatoes.—Choice, to lid lb; others, to ,7s 6d cwt. Cauliflowers, to 5s sack. Cabbages, Is 6d to 2s 6d sack. Onions—Canterbury, 10s 6d cwt. Honey, 3id to 4d lb. • Dairy butter ‘(wanted), to 6d lb. Beeswax,- Is lb. , Cheese, to sid lb. Walnuts, 6d to 8d lb. M'Donald and Miller’s gold medal bacon, 9d to lOd; ham, 10Jd; boneless hams, Is o|d; lard, 6d lb. Eggs, lid to Is Id dozen.