Room Here For Market Gerdeners

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 4

Room Here For Market Gerdeners

“Yes,” remarked a local greengrocer. interviewed this morning as to the cost of bis produce, “vegetables are fairly costly this year.”

Last year, he said, prices were fairly high, and so far show no reduction.

Cause could be seen by effect, he contended, the main reason for the high prices being that many of the smaller growers had gone out of business, leaving the field to a few growers in a big way .

“Many of the small growers have gone out of business,” he said, elaborating his theme. “They have obtained jobs at attractive wages, and, with little to lose, have left the market garden go a-begging. “This is regrettable,” he .continued, “because in Whangarei there is definitely room for more European market, gardeners.”

Private people, too, were adding to the demand for vegetables, and it was the experience of this greengrocer that fewer private gardens were being put in now than in the past. To bear out this statement, he added that sale of seeds had dropped this season.

With the greater demand for vegetables and fewer suppliers in the field, it was but natural that prices should increase. It must also be remembered that the growers were called upon to pay higher wages to employees, and this would have a bearing on the increased prices.

Speaking more specifically, the greengrocer said that cabbages were “quite dear” this year, and cauliflowers were “exceptionally dear.” Only within the last fortnight had either vegetable come anywhere near a reasonable price.

Retailer Does Not Benefit,

“The retailer doesn’t benefit by the high prices,” he said ruefully. “We have to turn some of the vegetables over at cost, and in some cases at under cost.” ,

A few weeks ago this vendor was purchasing cauliflowers from Auckland at 16/- per sack, without freight—, a phenomenally high price. Since then, however, there had been a slight drop, and his most recent consignment had cost 10/- per sack in Auckland. Translated to the cost per customer, this meant that a cauliflower selling at 1/8 a fortnight ago could now be sold for 1/-.

While it was a maxim of the shopkeeper that the customer is always right, he commented that the public are not always reasonable. Some people apparently regarded it as a personal affront if a shopman could not produce the exact vegetable they required at the prices they were prepared to pay, regardless of weather or market conditions.

So far as lettuce are concerned, the shopman said the supply so far is not good, but from the end of this month onward there should be plenty avail* able.