FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25796, 17 March 1945, Page 3

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

BANANA SHIPMENT ARRIVES HEAVY SUPPLIES OF TOMATOES Steady supplies of apples have been arriving from tlie Nelson district, mainly Worcester Pearmains, Cox’s Orange, end a few Jonathans. Prices remain unchanged on those ruling last week. Supplies received so far are well below the demand, and have had to be rationed. Only very small lots of pears are arriving, and they are also being rationed Consequent upon the better weather, heavy supplies of tomatoes are corning forward from Nelson, Central Otago, and Canterbury, some even coming from as far afield as Wellington. Ceiling prices arc still being obtained for the choicest lines, but the bulk of the offerings is of poor quality and has to be sold at from 2d to 4d per lb. Prices at the week-end were actually cheaper in Dunedin than they were in the north, and supplies are likely to be shorter next week. Peaches and Nectarines

A few nectarines are still coming forward and have a good demand. Freestone peaches are in good supply, and there has been a considerable drop in values. Retailers report that the demand for jam-grade fruit is now very poor, probably owing to the fact that most housewives have used up their extra sugar ration. Dessert plums have a good demand, but jam-grade are offering at low prices. Grapes were in heavy supply at the week-end, and prices were lower than earlier in the week. . No lemons were on offer during the week, and the market is bare of supplies. Passion fruit are arriving from the North Island and have a good inquiry. A fairly large shipment of bananas reached the market in good condition during the week. A few second-crop raspberries are now on offer and are readily taken up at ceiling prices. Only small lots of blackberries have arrived so far, the season being much later than in other years. The Vegetable Market

Choice quality cauliflowers have a good demand, but poor quality are hard to place. Savoy cabbages have a better inquiry, but drumheads are offering at low values. High prices are ruling for choice quality green peas. French and runner beans are in short supply and prices are high. Cucumbers are plentiful, and low prices are ruling. Marrows are in over-supply, and sales are slow. Choice quality lettuces are realising better values. Carrots were not so plentiful this week, but swedes are in over-supply. Potatoes are in shorter supply, and the market is gradually settling down. Gov-ernment-fixed prices are being obtained for all choice quality lines. Wholesale Prices Wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples: Cox's Orange, 7s to 10s 9d per case. Gravensteins, 4s to 5s 6d per case. Other dessert, 5s 6d to 8s 9d per case. Cookers, 5s 6d to 8s 9d per case. (All 6d extra for cases.) Pears, 14s 6d per bushel case (5d extra for cases). Nectarines: Choice, 8s to 12s per case; trays, 6s to 8s 6d. Plums; Choice, 6s to 9s 8d per case; trays, to 5s 8d; jam, 5s to 6s per case. Peaches: Choice, to 9s 8d per case; others, 5s to 7s per case. Raspberries, to 13s 6d per bucket. Lemons, 19s per case (town), 18s 3d per case (country). Bananas: Green, 24s per case (cases Is extra). Tomatoes: Choice, to 8d per lb; others, 2d to 4d per lb. • Green peas, 8d to Is per lb.’ Broad beans, 2d to 4d per lb. Lettuces: Choice, to 4s 6d per dozen; others, Is per dozen. Cauliflowers: Choice, 4s to 8s per sack. Cabbages. 2s to 4s per sack. Rhubarb, Id io ljd per lb. Cucumbers, 4s to 8s per dozen; outside grown, 4s to 4s 6d per case. Spring onions. Is to 2s per dozen bunches. Marrows, to 7s per cwt. Potatoes, £8 to £lO per ton. Onions, £lB per ton.