FRUIT MARKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26778, 22 May 1948, Page 3

FRUIT MARKET

ANOTHER QUIET WEEK NO BANANAS YET Another quiet week has been experienced on the fruit market, only a limited variety of fruit being ofTered. There were three deliveries of apples, all of them Jonathan. Cooking apples were selling at a reduced price at the beginning of the week, but no later supplies came to hand. • Only a small delivery of pears was made, and these were rationed to the trade. No further advice about the expected shipment of bananas has been received. The demand, for tomatoes lias fallen oft', and only choice quality lines are now being sought. Green tomatoes and those affected by frost are not finding buyers. Grapes were in good supply at the week-end, and prices dropped considerably. Passion fruit, however, was not plentiful, resulting in the values increasing sharply. Abundant supplies of tree tomatoes came forward, and prices were low. There were a few Chinese gooseberries on the market.

The supply of cabbages and cauliflowers was much better than the previous week, yet cabbages still sold at the ceiling price. Carrdfe and parsnips had a good inquiry, and swedes and marrows were plentiful. Lettuces were slow of sale because of the colder weather. Celery was in good supply, but values were low. A consignment of kumeras arrived from Gisborne during the week, and was immediately taken up by the trade. Range of Prices

The rates ruling at the end of the week were:—

Lemons.—New Zealand grown: Town, 25s a bushel; country, 245. Grapefruit.—Jamaican: Town, 46s Gd a case; country, 43s Gd.

Bananas.—To arrive. Quinces. —4s to Gs a half-case. Cape gooseberries, to 7s a half-case. Pears, 7s Gd a half-case, 18s 9d a bushel case, cases Gd and 9d extra. Grapes, 3s 6d to 4s Gd lb; Gros Colmars, 5s Gd to lb. Apples.—Johnathan, 12s 6d to 13s Gd a case; cookers, 8s to 10s Gd; cases 9d extra. Tomatoes.—Hothouse, Is 6d to 2s 4d lb; outside grown, 4d to Is; medium, 3d to sd; inferior and frosted, unsaleable.

Passion fruit, 18s to 22s a case. Tree tomatoes, Gd to lOd lb. Chinese gooseberries, Is 3d to Is Gd lb

Jam melons, ljd lb. Lettuce, is to 2s a dozen. Carrots, to 5s a sugar bag. Cabbage, lGs 6d cwt. Pumpkins, to ljd lb. Marrows, 5s to 7s cwt. Beetroot, to Is 6d dozen. Celery, 4s to 7s a dozen heads. Leeks, 9d to 10d a bundle. Brussel sprouts, Gd to 8d lb. Spinach, 2s to 4s a dozen bundles. Parsnips, to 7s Gd a sugar bag.