FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 1

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd. (Dunedin) report as follows for week ending to-day:— Deliveries of nulling wheat from Can. terbury eased off during the week owing to the wet weather preventing threshing. _ Some of the wheat cording forward is in a soft condition, and this is causing inconvenience to millers, who in some cases are rejecting the offerings. Milling prices for the month of March are on a basis of Ss per bushel for Tuscan, f.0.b., sacks extra. The quotation to-day for fowl wheat may be given as round about 5s 9d per bushel. There are not many lines oa offer. Wholesale prices are as follow:—: Flour,— 2oo’s,£l3 15s 6d; 100’s, £l4 12s 6d; 50’s, £l4 17s 6d; 25’s, £ls 7» 6d. • Bran, £5 5s per ton. Pollard, £6 15s per ton; Oatmeal.—2oolb sacks. £22: 25’s* £24 The oat market remains unchanged. Potatoes are worth about £5 10s per ton, ex truck, sacks included. Owing to the presence of blight farmers are taking every opportunity to dig their tubers and get them on the market. Sales are slow, as distributors are content to operate on a hand-to-mouth basis. They are not prepared to stock up, on account of the risk of the keeping quality of the tubers. All the seed_ markets are firm, the weather conditions being an important factor. Stocks of all seeds are on the light side, and a fair percentage of the new crops has been badly damaged by the continuous broken The extent of the damage cannot be fully estimated, but it is considered that most of the ryegrass crops throughout the South Island will be seriously affected. To a less degree the same position applies to the fescue, dogstail, and cocksfoot crops. Certified and ordinary ryegrass is firmer in price, and it is difficult to obtain stocks of certified ryegrass. Merchants are working on last season’s ordinary ryegrass. The cocksfoot market continues to firm, and the wholesale value has moved up in Canterbury. White clover is also, firmer, as it is not expected that the usual quantity will be saved, and the market for cow grass is in a similar position. FRUIT REPORT. Supplies of nectarines have eased con. siderably during the week, and choice quality are realising better prices. Freestone peaches are in heavy sup> ply with low prices ruling. . Dessert and cooking plums are rather short of requirement. Apricots are practically finished for the season. Heavy supplies of tomatoes from -all districts have been arriving this week, and prices are much lower. Bonchretien pears are about finished for the season-, which this year has been -a short, one. Cookers are in good supply, with low prices ruling. Oranges are in short supply until the next shipment of Jamaicans, duo here next month. The Maui Pomare will arrive with a shipment of bananas early next week. This will be the final shipment before Easter. Vegetables were in better supply to. wards the end of the week. Weather-beaten lines of green peas are offering at low rates. Marrows are in short supply and the market is firmer. The following prices were realised during the week:— —Bushel and American Cases.—* Ripe bananas, 22s fid to 255. New Zealand lemons, 18s to 20s. Californian lemons, 60s. Peaches.—Dessert, 3s to 3s fid; jam, 2s to 2s fid. Plums.—Dessert, 4s to ss; jam, 2s fid to 3s fid. Nectarines.—Dessert, 4s to 4s fidj jam, 2s fid to '3s. —Per Dozen.— Cucumbers.—Hothouse, 4s to 5s fid. Lettuce, Is to Is fid; others. lOd to Is. Spinach, Is to Is fid. Section honey, 10s. —Per Sack.—• Cabbages, 3s. to 4s fid. Parsnips, Is dozen. Carrots, Is to la fid. —Per Pound.—* Plums, 3d to 4d. Peaches, 2jd to 3Jd. Nectarines, 3}d to sd. Local potatoes, 5s fid to 6s fid. Peas, 2d to 3d. Tomatoes.—Local, 8d to lOd; Christ* church, 3d to sd. Gold Medal Bacon.—Shoulder rolls. Is Old; long rolls, Is Id; equal rolls, Is Id. - Bulk honey, fid. Beeswax, Is 2d. Butter.—Prints, Is lid; bulk, 561 b, Is IJd; bulk, 281 b and 141 b, Is lid. Cheese, 7d to 71d. Eggs, market rates. Honey.—lolb tins, ss.