FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 22032, 18 May 1935, Page 12

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd. (Dunedin) report as follows for the week ending to-day:— The milling wheat market is unchanged. The advanced price to farmers for the month of May is on a basis of 4s Id per bushel, f10.b., with the usual increment of 2d per bushel for Hunter’s and another 2d for velvet. Fowl wheat is in short supply, as the wheat crops in Otagp this season were mostly of milling quality, and the quantity released by the Wheat Purchase Board for fowl wheat purposes has not been sufficient to meet the local demand. Supplies at present are being drawn from northern centres, where the equivalent of the f.o.b. prices of 4s 4d per bushel is being paid. Adding railage and other charges to the fowl wheat sent south, the cost of local feeders is fairly high. Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follow: Flour: 2001 b, £l2 12s; 100’s, £l2 17s; 50’s, £l3 2s; 25’s, £l3 7s. Bran: £5 per ton. Pollard: £6 5s per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b, £l9 ; 25’s, £2l. Little business is being recorded in the oat market, either for shipping or millers’ requirements. Offerings from growers are restricted, and the stocks in the stores are considerably less than is usual at this time of the year. Today’s shipping prices are 3s 3d per bushel, f.0.b., s.i., for A Gartons and 3s for B’s. The equivalent values in the country railway sidings are round about 2s lOd and 2s 6d respectively. Supplies of chaff are still being drawn from Canterbury, where the market remains steady at recent rates. The quality of the Canterbury chaff is good, and there have been some excellent deliveries from mid and South Canterbury. Locally, chaff ex the truck is worth £5 per ton, with £5 5s being asked for lots ex the stores. The shipping value of potatoes in the north has hardened to the extent of 10s per ton, but there has been little alteration in local prices, which tor some time past have been above the f.o.b. quotations in Christchurch and Timaru. The quotations at northern ports are on a basis of £5 15s per ton, f.0.b., s.i., and this price may bo given as the ex store price in Dunedin for good lines of Arran Chiefs. Export prices of seeds have been receiving a little more attention. This position applies particularly to Chewing’s fescue and brown top, two of the principal export varieties of seed in Otago and Southland. Prices of both these seeds have hardened. Chewing’s fescue is to-day worth Is lid per lb and brown top 2s. These prices .must prove very remunerative to growers, who in many eases have had exceptionally good returns from their crops.' The prices for cocksfoot and perennial and Italian ryegrass remain steady, but there has been a distinct easing in the cowgrass market, large returns in South Canterbury being the factor which has brought about this 'weakness. The white clover (crops throughout the South Island have been exceptionally good. Prices for white clover opened on the low side, and there “has been little variation in values as the season has progressed. FRUIT REPORT. Heavy supplies of / Cole and winter pears are reaching the marts from Central Otago. Some of the lines have been held too long, and are not reabhing the market in the best of condition. The poorer lines of fruit have affected the prices for th« best sorts. The apple market is easier, consequent on heavy consignments from Central Otago. Inferior grades arc offering at low rates, and sales are hard to effect. Cookers are also plentiful. Californian lemons and oranges arc in good supply. The Maui Pomare arrived on Monday at Lyttelton with a cargo of Samoan bananas. The portion for the local market wa,s received on Wednesday, ex the Port Whangarei, instead of by the usual method of railway transport. Sales of bananas have been on. the slow side owing to the cold weather. There is a good demand for hothouse tomatoes, but there is little inquiry for outside grown, which are now of poor colour. The season is about finished. Gros Colmar grapes have a better demand. ' • Quinces are still on offer from Central Otago, but they are not meeting with much demand. . . Best quality cauliflowers are bringing sound values. There is a better demand for best quality lettuce. Carrots, parsnips, and beetroot are plentiful. , . Jam melons continue m heavy supply. Pumpkins and marrows are in over supply. * * _ Only small lots of green peas and runner beans are now reaching the market, and better prices are being obtained. . Small lots of violets are coming forward from the Canterbury district. Wholesale prices are as follows; Fears. —Winter Coles (choice), wanted, 7s to 9s bushel cases; others, half-cases, 2s to 3s case. Oranges.—Californian, wanted, 36s •to 37s fid. . ..Lemons. —Californian, 36s fid to 40s; New Zealand, to 15s. Grapefruit, 375. Tomatoes. —Christchurch hothouse, 3d to 5d lb; outside grown, Hd to 3Jd lb; local firsts, 5d to lOd lb; local seconds, 3d to 4id lb. Quinces, 3s to 4s case. Bananas—Ripe, 21s to 225; green, • 18s to 20s.

Pineapples, 24s to 255. Cucumbers, Is to 3s dozen; cased, 4s to 8s case. Green peas, 2id to 4Jd lb. Potatoes, £5 10s to £(5 10s ton. Cabbages, wanted, 5s to 7s bag. Cauliflowers, wanted, 3s 6d to 7s Cd sack. Lettuces, Is Id to 2s 6d dozen. Onions, 15s to 16s cwt. Marrows, 4s to 6s cwt. Melons, slow, 3s to 4s cwt. Pumpkins, wanted, 7s to 9s cwt. Beans, lid to 2d lb. Carrots, Is per dozen. Parsnips, Is per dozen.' Swedes, Is 6d sugar bag. Beet, Is dozen. Celery, to 8d bunch. Leeks, 3d to 4d bunch. Brussels sprouts, wanted. Bulk honey, to 4Jd lb. Butter, storekeeper wanted, 6d to 7d lb. Beeswax, to Is Id lb. Eggs, market rates. Oyster grit, 7s cwt. Fowl wheat, 4s lOd bushel. Oats. —A Garton, 3s Id bushel; B Garton, 2s lOd bushel; crushed oats, 9s 6d bushel. Cross Keys meatmeal, 16s bushel. Chaff, £5 5s per ton. Straw', wheaten, £2 10s per ton. Cheese, 5d to 5Jd lb. Lard, 6Jd per It). Macdonald and Miller’s Gold Medal bacon, to Is Id lb. Paper whites, 4s to Cs dozen. Double Romans, 4s 6d to 7s dozen. Violets, 3s to 6s dozen.