SUPPLIES OF FRUIT

Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 7

SUPPLIES OF FRUIT

SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY WINTRY CONDITIONS POTATO DIGGING ALSO SUFFERS The extremely wintry conditions during the week have had a detrimental effect on supplies and sales of fruit on the local market. Only small lines of stone fruit hav6‘ been received, ,and arrivals of first-grade fruit have been definitelv restricted. The majority of consignments consist of plums, apricots and peaches being scarce. Increasing consignments of nectarines are coming to hand. Greengage and Satsuma plums have firmed in price. , v , -. Only small . parcels of N elson-grown apples are being received, but Centra) Otago.-grown Worcesters and Gox s are increasing. Fair consignments of Bonchretien pears are now . coming to hand. ■ There are still fair consignments of raspberries being received, but buyers have secured their requirements for the season and values are lower. Tomatoes are in very short supply, only small consignments 'of out-door grown are being received, while prices for hothouse grapes have firmed slightly. Small consignments of mushrooms are arriving and meeting with a good inquiry. Oranges are very short of ■ requirements, a line of Japanese navels being due by the Sydney Mimi on Tuesday, and a fairly large shipment of Californian, fruit ex the Monterey ,m about a fortnight’s time Ripe bananas hare only a fair inquiry. There is a good demand for vegetables, cabbage being still short of requirements, with cauliflowers in better .supply. Consignments of marrows and pumpkins are ample for requirements. Onions are short, the wet weather having seriously affected the harvesting of these. The same position applies to potatoes, prices for which have firmed during the week. New season’s honey is now coming to hand, values being considerably in advance of last season. The egg market is very firm at Is 7d, being an advance of 2d during the week; , Increased values are being obtained for all lines of poultry’.