FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 4

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

MARKET CONDITIONS i The director of the horticulture division has received, the following reports from the fruit inspectors on the conditlol* °f locally grown fruit and vegetables in and auction rooms and the market conditions for the month of February, 1926: Wellington.—During the month apples have been plentiful and the condition good, although many lines, were found to be immature. Pears also were in good supply, with the quality of W.B.C.'s showing a great improvement towards, the latter part of the month. Stone fruit were plentiful and in good condition, with supplies easing off slightly towards the end of the month. Tomatoes were plentiful and in exceUent condition. Good supplies of vegetables were received. The following is a fair average of the prices realised:— Apples.—Gravenstein, 5s 6d tq 9s per cast; Worcesters, 5s to 7s per case; Quarrendon, 4e> to 6s per case; Beauty of Bath, 6s to 6s 6d per case; Cox's, 5s to 6s per case;, cookers, 4s 6d to 5s fid per case. Pears: Wyß-.C.'s, 5s to 8s per case; I/.8.J. 8,5 sto fis per case. Plums: Burbank and Satsuma, 7s to 8s per half case; Grand Duke and Blue Diamond, fis to 7s per half case; Prunes, 5s to fis per half ease; October* Purple, 7s to 8s 6d per half case; greengages, 9s to 10s 6d per half case. Peaches, 6s to 7s per case; apricots, fis fid to 7s 6d per case;nectarines, 8s to 10s per case; tomatoes, 4s to 5s per half case; grapes, Is 4d to 3d per lb; cauliflowers, 7s to 11s per sack; cabbage, 5s 6d to fis fid per sack; rhubarb, 4s fid to ss‘fid per dozen bundles; potatoes, 7s fid to 13s per cwt. Christchurch.—Vegetables : A good demand has been experienced for all classes of vegetables throughout the month, and prices have been steady for all varieties. Oiuons nave been in short supply and have realised very high prices. Apples: of Cox's Orange and Worcester Pearmain in the best sizes have been bringing high prices. A number of consignments coming from Nelson have been too small and nave not realised good prices. Pears; William Bon Chretien jhav© sold well, and are being inquired for. Other varieties are hard to sell Apricots and peaches: From Central Otago are now practically finished, and prices realised for these have been very g°od. Nectarines: Are in good demand and the supplies are short. Raspberries: Are now finished. Blackberries: Have been in market Tomatoes : With the exception of the last week have well maintained their prices, but values now are much lower, as the outdoor fruit is coming forward. The following list giveh a fair indicanon- of prices realised during the month : Apples, Ncl'son 5s to 8s fid per casa. local up to 12s per case, cooking 4s to 6s per case; apricots, dessert 3d to 4d per lb, cooking 2d to 3d per lb; grapes, firsts 3s 3d to 3s 9d per !b, seconds 6d to 3s per lb; nectarines, firsts 5d to 6d per lb, seconds 3d, to 5d per lb; pears, cooking 8s tb 6s per ease, dessert 2d to 3d per lb; peaches, cooking 2Jd to 3d per lb, dessert up to, 3s per lb; plums, cooking 23d to 3Jd per lb, dessert 3d to 5d per lb; strawberries, 3s fid per lb; tomatoes, sauce 2d to 4d per lb, dessert fid to 7d, per lb: beans, French lid to 2rl per lb; beet, 9d to. is pci dozen bundles; cabbages, 2b to 5s p.er dozen; cauliflowers, up to 32s fid per dozen; carrots. Is to 3s 3d per dozen, cucumbers, hothouse fid per lb outdoor 3s per case: celery, 6d per bundle; green peas, Is 3d per neck; lettuce, 3s 3d per dozen; marrows, 3s fid to 6s fid per dozen; new potatoes. -lid' per lb • potatoes, 4s per sugar bag; onions, local’, , bcl Per sugar bag; parsnips, 2s per dozen; pumpkins. 3d per lb; rhubarb, 2s fid per dozen; spring onions, Is 6d per dozen; turnips, 3s fid per dozen; spinach, 3s 3d per dqzen; swedes, 2s per sugar