FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 2

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

POTATOES IN HEAVY SUPPLY WEATHER PLAYS HAVOC WITH TOMATOES A busy and difficult period has been experienced in the fruit marts since they reopened on Wednesday. Fairly large stocks of tomatoes and green peas had accumulated over the holidays, and this fact and also th hot weather were responsible for the heavy drop in values. The supply of cherries has also been in excess of the demand, and prices dropped each day until at the week-end the fruit became difficult to clear even at low prices. Peaches and apricots have realised satisfactory prices. So far no word has been received regarding the dates when the ceiling prices for stone fruit are to come into force, but last year the ceiling price for peaches came into operation on January 10 and for apricots on January 17. The ceiling price for plums has been in force for the past week, but only a small quantity has come forward. Red and black currants have been offering freely, and prices are easier. Gooseberries are still on offer, but the demand is becoming weak. The first of the season’s raspberries fi-om Waimatc and local growers have been received, and these have been selling at less than the ceiling prices. The demand should improve when the holiday period is over. Strawberries are still being sold at lower rates, but choice lines are realising satisfactory prices. Oranges Rationed to Trade

A small quantity of oranges reached the market during the week, and these were rationed to the trade. Lemons are unErocurable in retail shops, there having een no supplies for over two months. No word has been received when further supplies may be expected. Cold-house tomatoes from the Kakanui district are realising better prices than .those from Christchurch. - Hjpated-house tomatoes from Christchurch are reaching the market in soft. condition, and low prices have had to be accepted in order to clear stocks.- Many growers of heatedhouse tomatoes have disposed of practically all their supplies, and the market will have to rely on gold-house tomatoes and those grown outside. Reports from Canterbury show ! hat. outside crops suffered severely in the cold and. wet spell, and are likely to be two to three weeks late in reaching the qiarket. The quantity is also likely to Be well down on supplies in past years. Green, peas which normally would have been ready for the Christmas market have been In heavy supply from Oamaru and Waimate, and many lines reached the market in an over-heated condition. These sold at lew prices, and some growers who received up to Is 2d al Christmas have had to be content with 2jd to Od since the New Year. Cauliflowers have been in fair supply, but cabbages continue to be short. There are good supplies of new potatoes, and prices have shown a considerable drop on the ceiling wholesale price this month (3}dl. Fairly hgaVy slocks have accumulated in the marts, and the demand has been very weak since the holidays, as many shops have heavy stocks. The New Year sales were slower than expected. Cucumbers from Christchurch arc still on offer. Wholesale Prices Wholesale prices arc as follows Peaches: Choice, 7d to IOJd per lb; others, 4d to fid per lb. Apricots: Choice. Is to Is 4d per ( lb; others, to 9d per lb. Red and black currants, 5d to 7d per lb. Gooseberries, 3d to 4d per lb. Cherries: Choice, to 2s per lb; others, 6d to Is. Strawberries: Choice, to 2s 6d per pottle; jam, Is to Is 4d per pottle. Plums, fid per lb. , , Raspberries, to Us 6d per bucket. Oranges, 31s 6d (town), 30s Od (countrv). Lemons: New Zealand. 19s down), 18s 3d (country). Bananas: Sold out. Hothouse tomatoes: Choice, Is 3d to Is 7d per lb: ethers, 9d to Is per lb. Green peas. 2Jd to 4d per lb Broad beans, to 4d per lb. Lettuce: Choice, to 2s 6d per dozen; others, to Is. Radishes, to Is per dozen. Cauliflowers. 8s to 12s per dozen; inferior, to 4s per sack. Cabbages, to 11s per cwt. Rhubarb. 2d to scl per lb. Cucumbers. 12s to 19s per dozen. New potatoes, 2d to 3d per lb. Onions, 2jd per lb.