VEGETABLE PRICES UP THIS WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17689, 9 November 1925, Page 7

VEGETABLE PRICES UP THIS WEEK.

SUPPLIES OF FRESH FISH LOW, MUCH DEARER. Nearly, all classes of vegetables were dearer this week than was the case last week. This is due partly to the fact that supplies are rather on the short side and partly to the increased demand occasioned by holiday week. Since the beginning of last week there has been an increase of Id a dozen in thc f price of eggs. Fresh fish was in short supply to-day a.nd consequently dear. VEGETABLES AND FRUIT. Cauliflowers were practically unprocurable to-day and they were very dear at 2s and 2s Gd each for large ones. There has also been an increase in the price of spring cabbage to $d and 9d each. Parsnips, carrots, white turnips, beetroot. spring onions and radishes, all of which arc usually retailed at 2d a bunch, were marked today ‘at 3d. Locally grown green peas arc becoming more plentiful and they are cheaper at lOd a lb. North Island new potatoes cost 31b for Is. There j arc very few locally grown new potatoes about yet. Bro,ad beans (the first of the season) were on sale in the shops 1 to-day. Lettuces are still keeping up in price. The retail price of them today was 6d and 8d each. The only table' onions available are imported. They cost 6d a lb, but they are of good quality and there is no waste with them. Rhubarb is a little dearer at 6d and 9d a bundle. Silver beet costs 6d a bundle. Strawberries and cherries (the first of the season) were on sale in the shops to-day, but naturally they were very dear. Strawberries were marked at 5s a box and cherries at 5s a lb. Gooseberries are now getting more plentiful. They cost 8d a lb. Locally grown hothouse tomatoes are cheaper at 3s a lb, whilst Island tomatoes cost Is and Is 6d a lb. First grade Sturmcr apples are now being retailed at Sd a lb, Delicious at Gd and 8d a lb. Cooking apples are hard to get. Lord Wolseley’s cost 6d a lb. Dessert pears are being retailed at 6d a lb. Sydney oranges cost five, six and eight for Is, passion fruit, five for Is. bananas (new shipment) six to twenty-four for Is. lemons five and six for Is, Island pineapples 9d and Is each. FRESH FISH SCARCE. Supplies of fresh fish were short today, and, as the holiday week has resulted in an increased demand, fishmongers are finding it. difficult to fill all requirements. Most classes of fresh fish are dearer than they were last week. Following are some prices a lb: —Groper Is (in the piece), Is J3d (cutlets), ling 9d, gurnet and terakihi Bd, soles and flounders Is 3d. Whitebait was much dearer to-day than was the case a week ago. It was being retailed to-day at 2s 3d a half-pound. EGGS DEARER. '/'lie increase of Id a dozen in the price of eggs was not unexpected. For some time past, although the supplies have been good, the demand has been very keen and the tendency of the market, has been -upwards. There is a particularly keen demand from pastrycooks and others for eggs for preserving and they are offering prices that would have been unheard of in prc vi ou s season s.