COMMERCE AND FINANCE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 7

COMMERCE AND FINANCE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

STONE FRUITS IN SHORT SUPPLY VEGETABLE PRICES HIGH Very heavy supplies of tomatoes, peaches and cherries reached the market on. New Year’s Eve and prices showed a sharp drop. Cherries, in particular, had to be cleared at prices that were less than half those ruling a few days earlier. The market was weak until this week-end. when there was a gradual improvement in the prices of both cherries and tomatoes. Peaches, at the week-end, were in very short supply, and extreme prices were ruling. Apricots, also, have been realising very high prices. The ceiling price for peaches will operate from Monday. This will be to 10s per case and 5s 8d per tray. The ceiling price for apricots will not come into force before January 15. A ceiling price on plums of 10s per case has been in force since January 1. and auctioneers are having extreme difficulty in satisfying customers. In most instances supplies have had to be balloted for. Special grade plums from Christchurch usually realise from Is to Is 2d per lb at this time of the year, and it can readily be understood why there are not sufficient to go round at the ceiling price of 10s per case. Raspberries are also being rationed to the trade at the ceiling price of 13s 6d per bucket. Both the wholesale and retail markets are out of oranges, but It is expected that a small allocation will be made, ex cool store, some time next week. Lemons and bananas are unobtainable, and no word has been received of further shipments. Red and black currants, which were difficult to dispose of during the New Year period, are now receiving a much better inquiry, and prices are higher. A few gooseberries are still on offer. Cucumbers have a steady inquiry, and supplies are arriving from Auckland and Canterbury. The Vegetable Market Cauliflowers are in very short supply, the hot weather having caused them to mature quickly. Supplies of cabbages are hardly sufficient for the demand, and are realising the ceiling price of 11s per cwt; New season's carrots are still practically unobtainable. The ceiling price has been lowered to 19s per cwt, which is little encouragement to growers to send their carrots to the market. The ceiling prices for carrots are ridiculously low, and it seems that if these continue no early carrots will reach the market in the future. White turnips and beetroot are in good supply. Choice quality lettuces are In good demand, but poor quality is difficult to dispose of. New potatoes are in short supply and the prospects for the rest of the month are far from bright. The new ceiling price is 3d per lb. Green peas are in very short supply, with prices high. Broad beans are in fair supply, with prices steady. Small quantities of silver beet have realised the ceiling price of 25s per cwt. Spring onions are in good supply, and marrows are now coming forward, with supplies increasing daily. Dried onions are off the market in the meantime, but supplies of new season’s onions are expected from Auckland some time next week. Wholesale prices are as follows: — Oranges, lemons, and bananas: Unobtainable. . . Apricots: Choice, Is 2d to Is 6d per lb, others 6d to 9d per lb. Peaches: Choice, 9d to Is per lb; others, 4d to 8d per lb. • Cherries: Choice, to.2s 6d per lb; others, 9d to Is 4d. Plums: 10s per case. ...... Raspberries: To 13s 6d per bucket, or to Is 6d per bottle. ! Biack Currants: 5Jd to Bid per lb. Red Currants: 6d to 8d per lb.. Gooseberries: To 4Jd per lb. Rhubarb: To 3id per lb Tomatoes: Choice, Is 6d to Is 9d per lb; others, Is 2d to Is 4d per lb. _ Cucumbers: Hothouse, 10s to 15s per dozen; outside-grown, 22s 6d P er ,9 as ®’ Cauliflowers, 7s to 10s per bag; cabbages, 4s 6d per bag; lettuces, choice to 3s 6d per dozen, others Is to Is 6d per dozen, carrots, 19s per cwt; marrows. 3d to, 40 per lb- beetroot, 2s to 2s 6d per dozen,, white turnips, is to Is 6d per dozen green peas, choice 6d to 71d per lb. dry 3d to 4d per lb; broad beans. Id to 2d per lb; French beans, to Is 3d per lb. spring onions, to 2s per bunch. BALCLUTHA STOCK SALE f<?neciall BALCLUTHA, Jan. 7. S The yarding of sheep at the fortnightly sale to-day was a small one, comprising 22 fat and 161 store sheep. Fat ewes sold at ra store P Sheep.—One pen of forward lambs made 20s. Several pens of two-tooth ewes and other entries were passed. ‘ Fat Cattle. —Only 21 were yarded. Fat cows sold at from £6 15s to £l2 12s 6a, fat heifers, £9 to £ll 17s 6d; light bullocks, £8 15s to £l2 10s. Store Cattle.—2l7 were yarded. Wellbred forward bullocks made from £lO 3s to £l3 ss; one and a-half to two-year steers. £7 10s to £8 7s 6d; cows in calf, from £3 7s to £5 ss; 15-month heifers, ’£4 to £5 15s. Dairy cows (seven yarded) sold at £5 10s to £7 10s, and bulls at £ pi gs —Twenty-eight were penned. Suckers sold at rates up to 20s. There were some passings.