CITY MARKETS

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 3

CITY MARKETS

HARVESTING NOW IN PROGRESS FRUIT MARTS ARE WELL SUPPLIED By Our COMMERCIAL EDITOR Harvesting of various crops in Southland is either in progress or about to begin and merchants will shortly receive samples of the grain and other produce. In the meantime the markets are quiet. Stone fruit is in fair supply at the fruit markets and business is brisk in most lines. Oats.—Crops of oats in the country are now changing colour very quickly and harvesting will probably be general in the next few weeks. The new season’s crop should yield well and the grain will come on to practically a bare market. There should be a fair demand at the opening of the season for milling purposes. Wheat.—Wheat crops are also showing signs of ripening. Values to growers for milling quality will be on the same basis as opening prices last season. Farmers, however, are advised to place their crops in stack for a period to mature and thus secure milling grade. SLACK DEMAND FOR CHAFF Chaff.—This market is very slack. Requirements are very small at this period of the year and merchants do not wish to accumulate stocks in store. Value to growers for good quality is nominally £4 a ton, o.t.c.s. Ryegrass,—Most of the crop has been cut and is either in stook, in stack or has been threshed. Quite a number of lines have been forwarded to merchants’ stores. Unfortunately a great many of the earlier lines have not been allowed to mature and many' have been threshed after being in stack for only a few days. As a result the seed is in damp condition and quite a quantity has developed heat in the bags. Much of the seed which has come forward is light in weight, which detracts from its quality. It is to be hoped that later threshed lines will show more kernel. So far no business has been transacted between growers and merchants as the latter are awaiting germination results before making offers. Probably most of the business will be done on a dressed basis.

Chewings Fescue. —Threshing is proceeding in the fescue districts. It is understood that a fair proportion of the crop is in stack. Business is reported to be quiet as merchants are not disposed to operate to any extent until there is some assurance of securing cool space for overseas shipment. Potatoes.—At present shipping merchants are showing no interest in the market. As a rule they are not interested in forward business and it will be some time before the main crop is dug. STONE FRUIT SUPPLIES Fair supplies of stone fruit have been coming forward in spite of unfavourable weather. Apricots appear to be finished for the season. Peaches should be on the market for about three more weeks, but it is not likely that heavy' supplies will be offering at any time during that period. A few greengage plums have been sold, but the crop is reported to be very light. Some of the main variety of plums arc being marketed now and higher prices than usual have been ruling. Supplies of new season’s apples are increasing and apples and pears will again be sold at fixed prices under the control of the Internal Marketing Division. Bon Cretian pears made their appearance yesterday. They were in green condition and should be ready for consumption within a week. Supplies of tomatoes have been smaller than last week. Glass-house supplies are almost finished and out-side-grown fruit is not yet coming forward in quantity. Prices this week are easier, but may be considered satisfactory by the growers as they are still about 50 per cent, higher than they would be in an ordinary season. The shipment of bananas which arrived last week is ripening satisfactorily and there is a good demand. The demand for oranges has improved. A fair quantity was placed on the market last week-end and another small quantity is being released this week. Lemons are unprocurable at present, but fresh supplies are in sight. Vegetables are more plentiful and prices are easier all round. Wholesale prices are as follows:— Tomatoes.—Glasshouse, 9d to 1/- per lb; outside-grown, 7d to lOd per lb. Peaches, 3/- to 5/- a box. Plums.—Dessert, 5Z- to 8/- a box; cooking sorts, 4/- to 5/- a box. Apricots.—To 8/- a box, Nectarines. —4/6 to 7/6 a box. Cucumbers,—Outside-grown, to 6/- a box. Cauliflowers.—s/'- to 8/- a sack. Cabbages.—4/- to 6/- a sack. Carrots. —To 2/9 a dozen bunches. Marrows. —To 2d per lb. RANGE OF PRICES Wholesale

Bran: £6 a ton. Butter: First grade, 1/41. Oatmeal: 25’s £29/14/- a ton; 200 s

£27/14/-. Pollard: 100’s £7/10/- a ton; 150’s

£7/5/- a ton. Flour: 200’s £l3/15/6 a ton; 100’s £l4/12/6 a ton; 50’s £l4/17/6 a ton; 25’s £l5/7/6.

Butter: 1/6. Bran: 7/6 per 1001 b. Oatmeal: s’s 2/-; 25’s 8/9. Flour: 25’s 4/6, 50’s 8/6, 100’s 16/-. Pollard: 9/- per 1001 b. EGG PRICES

Eggs were quoted yesterday at 1/6 to 1/8 wholesale and 1/8 to 2/- retail. The agents of the Southland Poultry Producers’ Association quoted wholesale rates at 1/6 for medium, 1/8 for standard and 1/9 for heavy. Vickery’s Egg Pool prices were quoted at 1/6, 1/7 and 1/8. SEPARATOR BUTTER Separator butter was quoted yesterday at lOd to 1/- wholesale, and 1/- to 1/3 retail. The prices of eggs and separator butter are subject to constant variation. The prices quoted were, those ruling yesterday.