FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 22721, 7 August 1937, Page 11

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd., Dunedin, report as follows for week ending to-day:—

Conditions are unchanged in the milling wheat market, with few transactions going through. The fowl wheat market continues steady, with stocks getting into small compass. Good, hard-conditioned lines suitable for -keeping are worth 5s 6d per bushel, sacks extra, ex truck. Fowl wheat in soft condition sells at irregular prices according to quality. Wholesale prices are as follows: —

Flour—2oo’s, £l3 15s 6d; 100’s, £l4 12s Gd; 50’s, £l4 17s 6d; 2o’s £ls 7s 6d. Bran, £5 5s per ton. Pollard, £6 15s per ton. Oatmeal.—2oolb sacks, £25; 25's, £27.

The quiet, position which has obtained in the oat market for the past month continues. Millers have secured the bulk of their requirements, and are now only in the market for an occasional line of heavy Gartons. The value of these is 3s 5d per bushel, sacks extra, country sidings. Ordinary A grade Gartons are worth 3s 3d pei r bushel, B Gartons 3s, and under-grade about 2s 9d. The nominal quotation for A Gartons for shipment to the North Island is 4s, f.0.b., s.i., with B’s at 3s Bd._ There is not a great demand for chaff, and sales are difficult to effect. Supplies are arriving from the surrounding districts,' and also from Canterbury, and the ruling quotation for prime quality, is £5 15s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, Dunedin. Poorquality chaff is difficult to place. The demand locally for potatoes is quiet, with whites worth round about £6 10s to £6 15s per ton, sacks included. King Edward’s are now getting into short supply, and they are worth considerably higher money. The past week has seen a better inquiry for a number of varieties of seeds. There has been a limited business from overseas in cow grass, and also in fescue. The sales made of the better variety have, however, been at reduced prices compared with those ruling earlier in the season. Ryegrass remains firm, with good-quality seed difficult to obtain, and cocksfoot is also firm, with prices in Canterbury unchanged. During the week there has been a strong inquiry for alsike. This is an imported clover, and as drought conditions have affected the crops in Canada a difficulty is being experienced in securing quotations from that country.

FRUIT REPORT, y A shipnient of South Australian oranges ex the last Waitaki, has all been sold to the retailers. The next shipment is due to reach Dunedin at the end of next week. The Waitaki, owing to weather conditions, is behind schedule. The Waimarino is due to reach Dunedin with a small consignment of island oranges grown at Auiitaki and Atiu. The wholesale price? for this have been fixed by the Government.

A further shipment of bananas arrived by rail from Lyttelton on Tuesday, transhipped ex the Maui Pomare at Lyttelton. The market is now fully stocked with green and half-green fruit.

Supplies of cooking and dessert apples have increased, but sales are on the slow side. Retailers report that a quiet week has been experienced owing to the break in the weather.

Dessert pears from cool stores are on offer in small quantities, and are bringing high prices. The Karetu arrived from Sydney with a small consignment of pineapples. The fruit arrived in excellent condi. tion. and met with a ready sale. The Wainui brought heavy consign-ments-of lemons from the Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay districts. The Port Whangarei landed a small shipment of Poorman orangesThe other vessel to reach Dunedin during the week was the Waiana, with lemons, Poormans, grapefruit, pumpkins, melons, and tree tomatoes. These were purchased by retailers at satisfactory prices. All lines of vegetables have been in keen demand.

Cauliflowers firmed a little in price during the week. Cabbages of good quality are realising good prices, and satisfactory values are also being received for carrots, parsnips, and swedes. Leeks, celery, rhubarb, and choice quality lettuce have also been having a steady sale. ' , ' Honey is slow; cheese is steady; and the egg market during the_ week experienced two drops, and still remains uncertain. The following prices were realised during the week: —■ —Per Dozen.— Lettuce, 3s to 4s, Spinach, Is 4d. Beetroot, Is 4d. Carrots, Is. Eggs, market rates. Mutton birds, to 10s. Creme narcissi, 4s to Bs. Sol de Or, 6s to 12s. Trumpets, 8s to 12s. Violets, 3s to 5s 6d. Fresias, 8s to 12s. —Per Case.— Californian lemons, 85s. New Zealand lemons, 15s to 225. —Per Case. — Australian oranges, 16s to 225. Poorman oranges, 10s to 12s 6d. Grapefruit, 455. Mandarins, 225. Bananas: Ripe, 18s. Pines, 17s 6d to 21s. „. Pears: Winter Coles, 8s 6d to 10s 6d ; Winter Nelis, 8s 6d to 10s 6d ; P. Barry, 9s ; cookers, 7s 6d. T Apples.—Delicious, 5s to 9s; .Jonathans, 4s 6d to 8s 6d; Stunners, 6s to 9s 6d ; Granny Smiths. 8s to 10s; cookers, 4s to 6s 6d. —Per Lb.— Local hothouse tomatoes, Is 2d to Is 6d. , a] Brussels sprouts, 4d to 6d. Leeks, 4d bunch. Celery, 6d to Bd. Kumeras, 3sd. Walnuts, 9d. Cheese, 7d. Butter: Storekeepers’, lid. Bacon, official price list.. Honey: 51b tins, 4s 9d tin; 101 b tins, 9s 3d. Beeswax, Is 6d. Pickling onions, 2d. Eschalots, 24d. Marrows, 3d. —Per Sack. —■ Cabbages, 5s to 7s. Cauliflowers, 8s to. 10s. Pumpkins, 18s. . ~, , Potatoes: White, 8s ; King Edwards, 9s 6d to 10s. Onions, to 16s. Oyster grit, 6s. Fowl wheat, to 6s 6d. Partridge peas, 6s 6d. Maize, 7s.