FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 11

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd. (Dunedin) report as follows for week ended to-day:— The estimate of the yield of wheat tor the 1934 season has been completed by the United Wheatgrowers’ Organisation. The estimate is worked out on the basis of the known acreage for the season,. and the report is sot down at twenty-nine bushels to the acre. - On tile , figures thus obtained the total yield should be-in thp vicinity of 8.500,000 bushels. How much of' this wheat will bo of milling quality remains to be seen. Moreover, it seems likely that the unseasonable weather conditions experienced since the reports were made up will reduce the estimate of twenty-nine bushels to the acre. There is nothing fresh to report in the milling wheat market. Millers are now awaiting the arrival of the new season’s Canterbury wheat. The fowl wheat market remains unchanged, supplies now being drawn from the Wheat Purchase Board, blit the business going through locally is not of very large dimensions. For small lots the quotation ranges from 4s fid to 4s fid per bushel, sacks extra, ex store. It will not be long noiv before supplies will be available from Canterbury. The oat market remains unchanged. Millers are prepared to buy small lots of old season’s oats, but little business is being transacted by either millers or shippers. The current quotation is 2s fid, f.o.b.s.i. for A’s and 2s fid for B’s. These prices are equivalent to Is 10d and Is. 7d respectively, on trucks, country sidings. Supplies of chaff are- still being drawn from Canterbury, where the market is a little firmer. Prices remain unchanged at .£4 5s per ton, ex store. Blenheim is quoting. £4 os per ton, f.0.b.5.i., Picton, for shipment to the North Island. Millers’ prices for flour, etc, are as follows:

Flour—2oo’s, £l4 2s; 100’s, £l4 17s; 50’s, £ls 2s; 25’s, £ls 7s. Bran, £5. Pollard, £6. ; Oatmeal—2oo’s, £l9 ; 25’s, £-1. Potatoes are plentiful. There is, however, a stronger inquiry from the North Island for forward delivery, this business opening much earlier for mam crop potatoes than • was the case last season. At present the price at which business is being done is £3 5s to £3 10s per ton, on trucks, country sidings. Little business has transpired in the seeds market.. However, for cowgrass and clover grown in Marlborough the market continues firm. New season’s apples _ arc now arriving in increased quantities. Some excellent lines of Gravensteins have come to hand from the Nelson district. Worcester Permain have also been received from North Canterbury. For any lines showing colour the demand has been good. Small lots of Bon Cretien pears have also been arriving from Nelson, and these have been realising high prices. New Zealand grown lemons of good quality are realising satisfactory values. Raspberries have been in over-supply and sales have been hard to make. The price obtained cannot show growers any margin of profit. Tim small, quantities of loganberries coming to hand have met with ready sales. Apricots and peaches have been in shorter supply, and the market showed an advance during the week. Reports from Otago Central lead us to believe that the apricot season is going to be a short one. , Moorpark is the main variety now on offer. We have been receiving some very fine samples of apricots from the Avoca Valley district. Choice dessert Burbank plums are realising good values, but jam sorts are on offer at very low rates. The supply from Otago Central has increased during the week.

Hothouse grapes are coming in increased quantities, but the price remains firm. The last shipment of Samoan and Niue Island bananas is ripening nicely, and stocks should be out of retailers hands by the time the vessel’s next supply comes to hand, French and runner beans are arriving in increased quantities, and good prices are ruling. Green peas have advanced in price. Some choice quality have come to hand from South Canterbury districts. Marrows and cucumbers are more plentiful. Cabbages are in good supply. Rhubarb is hard to. place even at low rates. Other vegetables are plentiful, with low prices ruling. The following prices were- realised during the week ; Apples, wanted—Gravensteins, 6s 6d to 9s; Beauty of Bath, 7s to 9s. Apricots—choice, 2|d to 4|d lb; cases, 4s 6d to 6s 3d case. Peaches —choice, 3d to 4|d lb; cases, 3s to 5s 3d case. Plums, IJd to 2fd lb. Nectarines, 5s 6d to 6s 6d case; crates, 4d to 6d lb. Pears—William Bon Chretien, to 12s case; ■ Jargonelle, 3s 6d to 4s 6d case. Strawberries, lOd to Is Id pottle. Gooseberries, Id to 13d lb. Raspberries, 4jd to 5Jd pottle; 3s 6d to 5s 6d bucket. Loganberries, to 5s bucket. Red currants, SJd to 4id lb. Black currants, 2d to 3d lb. Tomatoes—locals, 6d to 8d lb; Christchurch, 5d to 7Jd lb; Christchurch outside, 2d to 4Jd lb. Hothouse grapes, Is 5d to Is 9d lb. American grapes, 26s case. Californian oranges, to 37s 6d case; grapefruit, 37s 6d case. Queensland pines, 20s case. New Zealand lemons, 17s to 24s case.

Californian lemons, 52s 6d double case. ■ Bananas, ripes, 23s 6d case. Rhubarb, Id lb. - . Cucumbers, to 6s 6d dozen. Marrows, to 2id lb. Green peas, Id to 2d lb. French beans, 2|d 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 fid to 2s 6d sack. Onions, Canterbury, to 8s cwt; Honey, 3sd 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; hams, 10Ad; boneless hams’ls o|d; lard, 6d lb. Eggs, market rates.