SOME DRIED FRUIT WILL BE SCARCE FOR CHRISTMAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 66, 21 November 1949, Page 5

SOME DRIED FRUIT WILL BE SCARCE FOR CHRISTMAS

From present indications at Whakatane it is likely that dried fruits are going to be in short supply for this Christmas although th<_>re will probably be ■ ample carvned fruit. However, for those contemplating c.ny baking the position has been much improved with the lr.creased butter and sugar ration.

Inquiries from vetailers at Whakatane have revealed that dried fruit is still in short supply but, it is expected that in some lines there should be sufficient to meet any reasonable demand. There will probably not be many raisins about for cooking but a small shipment of muscatelles is expected, one retailer told the Beacon. These will probably come from South Africa. Currants are still unprocurable and none are expected before Christmas. Brighter Picture But there is a bright side of the picture. Sultanas are still, plentiful and there" will probably be ample supplies of mixed fruit about early next month. Most of these' are being packed in Australia.

Other dried fruits are coming in slowly and, according to one grocer, a large supply of dates is expected in Whakatane early in the new year. , The sugar position will be greatly helped by several thousand tons of sugar' which has been ordered from the- v United Kingdom. Some of this has already been unloaded in New Zealand and the balance will arrive in additional shipments over the holiday period and early next year. The first four shipments will go to the South Island tomieet the demand there and thus leave most of the New Zealand refined sugar to be distributed in the North Island.