FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 21974, 9 March 1935, Page 11

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd. (Dunedin), report as follows for week ending to-day:— The rains which fell throughout the South Island caused a temporary delay in threshing operations. All the carry-over from last season's crop will be required in order to make up the deficiency in this year’s returns. The quality of the wheat on offer shows a variation. The Canterburygrown is not up to the usual standard, and the best wheat is being obtained from southern districts. The advanced prices to farmers for deliveries during March are on a basis of 4s per bushel, f.0.b., for Tuscan, growers’ nearest port. Hunters are worth 4s 2d, and velvet 4s 4d. At the beginning of the week the fowl wheat market was Ginn, with a tendency' to advance. This advance, however, has been checked by the Wheat Purchase Board releasing a portion of last year’s surplus wheat for poultry purposes. This wheat has been sold for distribution to the North Island on a basis of 4s 4d, f.0.b., sacks extra. Local stocks of fowl wheat are on the short side, as practically all the supplies coming in are being taken for milling purposes. The current value is 4s Gd, sacks extra, with up to os being obtained for small lots. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follows; Flour: 2001 b, £l3 2s; 100’s, £l3 7s; 50’s, £l3 12s; 25’s, £l3 17s. Bran, £5 per ton. Pollard, £G 5s per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b, £l9; 2o’s, £2l. The oat market continues firm, with growers not showing any anxiety to sell in the meantime. There has not been a great quantity of oats threshed, but, on the other hand, the demand from the North Island is very slack. Some buying has been done between South Island merchants, and this has kept up the tone of the market. A sale of A. Gartons for spread delivery has been reported at 3s Id, f.0.b., s.i., but the nominal quotation to-day is 3s. B grade are worth 2s 9d, f.0.b., s.i. These values are equivalent to 2s 7d on trucks, country sidings, sacks extra, and 2s 4d respectively. There is a strong demand for Duns and Algerians for autumn sowing. These oats arc required by farmers for immediate sowing for catch crops for winter feed. Supplies of chalf are not plentiful, and are difficult to secure, as most farmers are busy harvesting their grain crops. Lines coming to the local market are being drawn from Canterbury, and the values are firm. Best quality is worth £5 per ton, sacks extra, ex store, with a restricted demand. Supplies of potatoes are in excess of demand. The current value for best quality is from £5 to £6 per ton; bags included. Operations in the main crop are weaker, as the rains have considerably bellied-the growing tubers. Quotations for forward delivery have fallen about 10s per ton. There is a good deal of uncertainty in regard to the possibility of exporting potatoes to Australia, While, however, high prices are ruling in the dominion, it is apparent that there can be little chance of sending shipments across the Tasman Sea, By the time potatoes are re-bagged in new sacks and freight, duty, and landing costs are paid, a heavy initial charge would have to be borne by the tubers to be exported. The seed merchants remain linn. This applies particularly to cocksfoot, the values of which have again moved up. It is now certain that stocks of this seed will be on the short side. FRUIT REPORT. Apples are in good supply. Large quantities of Cox’s Orange Pippins are arriving from the Nelson district, but many lines are showing signs of bitter pit, and these have to be sold at low rates to clear. Cox’s Orange Pippins are now reaching the market from Central Otago. Growers would be well advised to hold their supplies over lor a. week or two, as reports state that the Nelson-grown will be off the market shortly. _ , ~ , Bon Chretien pears have a better demand, . , A large shipment of Californian navels and lemons arrived in the marts yesterday, These wore transhipped at Auckland. A shipment of Samoan bananas arrived during the week per Karetu, transhipped at Auckland. A large proportion of the fruit was showing rip© owing to the hot weather. The Orepuki is due to arrive at Dun : edin to-day with a shipment of Fiji bananas and Californian fruit transhipped ex the Maungauui at Wellington. Greengages are realising better prices. Peaches are in heavy supply, but only the best quality realise good values. Small jam peaches are offering freely. Sales of this quality arc hard to effect, even at low prices. Plums continue in heavy supply. The tomato market is firmer, as supplies have eased off owing to the colder weather. Inferior grade are still hard to place. A few lots of apricots are still coming forward. These have been in cool store in Alexandra. Local retailers are only purchasing small quantities of Iruit from the stores, as they consider that the scheme is still in its experimental stage. Lines which have been put in the cool stores in a ripe condition are not keeping well on arrival in the marts, but any sorts which have bcenu placed in them in a firm condition are opening out in perfect order. It is useless to put anything but the choicest fruit into the stores. Should the experiment prove a success there is no doubt that the Central Otago growers will lie able to extend the stone fruit season for several weeks. Grapes are in good supply and the market was easier towards the end of. the week. Cauliflowers have advanced in price

. Green peas have a better inquiry. French and runner beans are realising better prices. . Other vegetables are in short supply with fair prices ruling. The prices of vegetables, considering the smaller quantities coming to hand, are not as high as might have been expected. Wholesale prices are as follows : Apples.—Gravensteins, os to 6s 6d; Worcester Pennains, 4s to ss; Cox’s Orange, 5s to 7s. Pears.—W.B.C., wanted, 7s to 9s 6o bushel case; Jargonelle, 4s to 5s 9d. ' . Oranges.—Jamaican ‘ Juciful ’ brand, 26s to 345; Californian, 40s to 42s 6d. Lemons. —Californian, to 565; New Zealand 15 s. Grapefruit, 37s 6d. Plums, Is 6d to 4s case. Peaches.—Crated, 2d to 3d; cased, Is Gel to 3s. Apricots, wanted. Raspberries.—Buckets and tins, 5s to 7s. Blackberries, 3s to 4s tin. Tomatoes.—Christchurch hothouse, Ud to 3d lb, outside grown, Id to 2d lb; local firsts, 2*d to 4d lb; local seconds, 2d to 3d lb. Bananas.—Ripe, 25s case. Pineapples, 19s to 21s. Nectarines, 3s to 5s case. Cucumbers. —Is 6d to 3s doz; cased, 2s 6d to 4s case. Green peas, 2ld to 4d lb. Potatoes, £6 to £6 10s ton. Cabbages.—Wanted, 5s to 7s bag. Cauliflowers, 5s to 7s bag. Lettuces, 2s to 3s doz. Onions, 8s 6d to 10s 6d cwt. Marrows, 6s to 7s cwt. Beans, to 2d lb. Bulk honey, to 4Jd lb. Beeswax, Is Id lb. Butter.—Storekeeper, wanted, 7d to 8d lb. Eggs, market rates. Oyster grit, 7s cwt. Fowl wneat.—4s 6d bushel; second," 3s bushel. Oats. —A. Garton, 2s 3d bushel; B. Carton, 2s bushel; crushed, 9s 6d bushel. Cross Keys meatmeal, 16s bushel. Chaff, £5 per ton. Straw wheaten, £2 10. Cheese, od to sj-d lb. Boneless hams, Is Id lb. Lard, 6id lb. MacDonald and Miller’s gold medal bacon, to Is Id lb.