FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 16

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

LITTLE LIFE IN MILLING WHEAT COUNTRY OAT OFFERINGS NEGLIGIBLE, ACUTE SHORTAGE OF LEMONS Bray Bros. Ltd. report as follows on operations in local markets for the week ended yesterday:— Business in milling wheat is now of small dimensions. Millers are fully stocked and are not showing any interest in the market.. The advanced price for Tuscan for the month of July is 5s 9d a bushel, grower's nearest port, 5s lid for Hunter’s, and 6s Id for Velvet. Most of the business being transacted in fowl wheat is confined to small lots ex the stores, the general quotation being 6s 3d a bushel, - sacks extra . Wholesale prices are as follows: Flour.—2oo’s, £l3 15s 6d; 100’s, £l4 12s 6d; 50’s, £l4 17s 6d: 25’a, £ls 7a 6d. Bran, £5 5s a ton. Pollard, £6 15s a ton. Oatmeal.—2oolb sacks, £23 10s a ton f 25’s, £25 10s. Offerings of oats from the country are now negligible.; Practically all the crops have been threshed and deliveries 1 have either been made to merchants or millers. Isolated lines will no doubt appear on the market where farmers are holding for higher values. The current value in the country is up to 2s 4d. sacks extra, for heavy Cartons, 2s 3d for ordinary A’s, and 2s for B’s. ; The shipping market is quiet, with most of the business being transacted from the Bluff, where the ruling Quotation is 3s Id, f.0.h., si., for A Gartons, and 2s lOd, f.o.b v si., for B’s, At this port and also m Canterbury, higher prices are being asked, but few . orders are being received. Little business is being done in chaff. Values are unchanged, with truck loads, where a buyer can be found, worth £4 5s a ton, sacks extra. Business is practically confined to small lots ex the stores, with values ruling at £4 15s a ton, sacks extra. Early in the week the, potato market quietened down both for shipping and also for local trade, as mercnants iu the north, and also in the southern centres were not prepared to operate. At the week-end, however, more interest was being shown in the market, which was firm for shipment from Timaru ports. Thg nominal quotation in Dunedin for Arran Chiefs is £l4 a ton, with King Edwards bringing higher figures. Supplies of King Edwards are now getting into small compass. All the seed markets remain quiet, but steady. SMALL ALLOCATION OF AUSTRALIAN NAVELS. A quiet period' has. been experienced during the .week in the fruit markets, owing to the unfavourable weather conditions.

A small allocation of the last ship* meat of Australian oranges ex the Waitaki was released by the Internal Marketing Division on Thursday,, but the quantity was not nearly enough to satisfy the market’s requirements. The Tahiti oranges are now almost cleared from marts.

There is an acute shortage of-lemons, and we have received no report as to when the market will receive further supplies. There is a good demand for poofman oranges, good quality realising satis-? factory prices. , Tomatoes are now in short supply and values have advanced, but the crops are practically finished for the season.

The market is short supplied with both dessert and cooking apples of good quality. Consignments are recommended.

Dessert and cooking pears ex cool store are coming out in good condition and satisfactory prices are being realised.

We are receiving consignments of excellent quality tree tomatoes and passion fruit, and payable prices are being obtained.

Cauliflowers have been in steady supply, with good prices ruling. This applies also to good cabbages. Excellent prices are ruling for celery of first grade quality. Brussels sprouts continue to have a sound inquiry. Melons have been unobtainable, but a small consignment is expected by tha Wainni, due to reach Dunedin on-Mon-day morning. This vessel- has also a few pumpkins aboard. Carrots are in good supply. Parsnips are not so plentiful. Steady sales are prevailing for swedes. Onions are in short supply and price* have advanced. Leeks, beetroot, and spinach are bo-, mg received and payable prices are being realised. The egg market remains steady. Honey is slow of sale. Cheese sales are normal. RANGE OF PRICES. Apples.—Jonathans, 10s to ■l4s a case; Delicious, 9s to 10s 6d; Golden Delicious, 9s to 10s 6d ; Granny Smiths; 10s 6d; cooking, 6s to 7s. Pears.—Winter Coles, 10s 6d to 12s 6d a three-quarter case; Winter Coles, 5s to 6s a half-case; Winter Nelis, 6s to 7s a half-case; cooking, 3s 6d a halfcase. French Beans.—Hothouse, Is-a lb. Pumpkins, 2d a- lb. Melons. —Jam, 2d a lb. Carrots, Is to Is 4d a dozen. ■ Lettuce.—Large, 4s 6d a dozen;] small, Is to 2s a dozen. Cauliflowers, 6s to 10s 6d a bag. Cabbages, 6s to. 6s 6d a bag. Parsnips, 7s 6d a bag. Carrots, 4s to 5s a bag., Potatoes. —King Edwards, 17s a cwtj) Arran Chiefs, 16s 6d a cwt. Onions, 19s a bag. Spinach, 2s Id a dozen. ' Celery, 6s to 8s 6d a dozen. Leeks, 6d a bunch. Brussels sprouts, 3d to 3Jd a lb.