FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 22975, 4 June 1938, Page 13

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. (Dunedin) report for the week ending to-day ; Practically all lines of milling wheat have now been marketed. There is likely to be a considerably larger area sown down in wheat in the Otago district this season. Inquiries are now being received for seed wheat, but owing to the short crop in tho past season, fanners are finding it difficult to secure all their requirements. The fowl wheat market is unaltered. Local stores are holding limited quantities only. The value of best-quality fowl wheat is 6s to 6s 3d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store. Wholesale prices are as follows: — Flour.—2oo’s, £l3 16s 6d; 100’s, £l4 12s 6d; CO’s, £l4 17s 6d; 26’s, £ls 7s 6d. Bran, £5 5s per ton. Pollard, £6 los per ton. Oatmeal.—2oolb sacks, £l9 per ton; 25’s, £2O per ton. There is little life in the oats market. The reduction in the price of oatmeal has lowered the value of oats in the country. The nominal quotation for A Cartons for shipment is 3s sd, f.0.b., s.i., with B’s at 3s lid. These prices are equivalent to 2s lOd and 2s 6d respectively sacks extra, country sidings. The demand for chaff continues quiet. Best quality is worth £6 per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, but most of the business going hrough is from the stores at about £6 os per ton. The potato market is still over-sup-plied, and sales are difficult to effect. Best whites are worth £4 5s per ton, sacks included, and King Edwards, which are not over-plentiful, are bringing higher prices. The outlook for the future of the market is still obscure. All the seed, markets are firm, but little business is going through. Certified ryegrass , is particularly short. Supplies of ordinary ryegrass are also in short supply. The cocksfoot market is unchanged. White clover is firm, following on a scarcity of supplies, and the cowgrass market is also firm. The inquiry is quiet for small seeds. The overseas business in brown top has fallen away, and the same position applies to crested dogstail. The bulk of the crop of Chewing’s fescue has been cleaned up through export overseas. Business in the fruit mart during the week has been fairly quiet. A small shipment of Californian oranges, lemons, and grapefruit arrived ex the Waipiata, also Dunedin’s proportion of Samoan bananas transhipped ex the Matua at Auckland. With the exception of a small quantity, of Californian oranges the market awaits the arrival of tho first shipment of the season of, Australian oninges per the Waitaki, which vessel is due to reach Dunedin on the 7tb inst. The Maui Pomare’s Dunedin quota of Samoan and Niue Island bananas is due approximately the same date, as is also a small shipment of Island oranges The apple market has a tendency to improve now that consignments from Nelson districts are falling off. It is reported from Wellington that apples are selling from Is 6d to 4s per 40lb case. The market in Christchurch, On the other hand, is reported to be showing an improvement. Dessert and cooking pears have been in better supply, but prices are a little firmer. Outside-grown tomatoes are practically finished for the season, ana only small lots are reaching the market, and these have a good demand. Gros Colmar grapes are still reaching the market. Bananas are in good supply, with reasonable prices ruling. The sale of bananas is being affected by the low prices ruling for apples. Choice quality cauliflowers are in short supply, but poor quality are plentiful. Cabbages are in fair supply. Marrows, swedes, and carrots are plentiful. Cucumbers are only offering in small lots. There is a good sale for parsnips. Some choice quality lettuce, grown on the Peninsula have been realising high prices. The quality for this time of the year is excellent. The following prices were realised during the week:— —Per Dozen.— Lettuce, 3s 6d to 4s 6d. Carrots, Is. Parsnips, Is. Turnips, Is. Eggs, market rates. —Per Bag Swedes, Is 9d. Carrots, 2s to 2s 6d. Parsnips, 3s 6d to 4a. —Per Case.— Apples: Jonathans, 5s to 6d; Delicious, 5s to 6s 6d; Cookers, 5s to 6s. Lemons: New Zealand. 12s 6d to 15s; Californian, 50s to 555. Grapefruit, 30s. Pears, 2s 6d to 3s. Bananas. 16s to I7s 6d. Oranges (Californian), 25s to 27s 6d —Per Lb.— Tomatoes: Local, Is 6d to Is 8d; Christchurch, Is to Is 3d; Christchurch, second, 9d to ]od.