INCREASED FRUIT SUPPLIES

Chronicle (Levin), 15 December 1947, Page 7

INCREASED FRUIT SUPPLIES

Messrs. Townsend and Paul, Ltd.. fruit and produce merchants, Wellington, report that during the past week the market has taken on a brighter outlook, this no .doubt being due to increased supplies of small fruits coming to nand, together with the warmer weather. Fruits in greatest demand are strawberries, clierries, dessert plums, gooseberries, peaches, cucumbers and raspberries, while glasshouse tomatoes, especially coloured, are keenly sought after for Christmas ripening. For the latter, buyers from as far north as New Plymouth and Wanganui have been operating. In the poultry section there was a very keen demand for all choice lines and heavy yardings have been cleared at most atractive values, keen "competition bei'ng apparent in the offerings of prime pullets, cock^rels and ducks. Vegetable saies have been rather siow, more particularly cabbage and cauliflowers, while green peas have oeen offered as low as a few shillings per sack. However, a good demand was shown for choice lettuce, beetroot and hothouse beans. Flowers of many different varieties have made a beautiful showing, and values were in keeping with late rates. Quotations are:— Plums tgem), 12/-, 14/-; Sharps, 16/-, 24/-; cherry, 5/6, 8/6; bronze, 6/-, 10/6 4-case; cherries, 16/-, 24/- |-case; strawberries, 2/11, 3/6; red tomar toes, 1/-, 1/44 ; coloured, 1/2, 1/6; gooseberries, 6id, 9d per lb.; peaches, 8/-, 15/3; gladioli, 6d, 2/-; sweet peas, ld, 3d; carnations, 6d, 2/-; watsonia, 4d, 6d; poppies, . . 1/-, 4/gross; cabbage, 4/-, 8/-; cauliflowers, 8/-, 20/-; carrots, spring, 35/cwt.; parsnips, spring, wanted; beetroot, 9/-, 13/-; marrows, 10/-, 16/- case; cucumbers, 20/-, 30/- icase; peas, Hd, 7d; French beans, 1/-, 1/10; asparagus, 1/-, 1/4 lb.; lettuce, 5/-, 15/- case; W.L. hens, 3/6, 6/-; B.O. hens, 7/-, 12/7; ducks, young, 8/-, 15/6; old, 5/-, 9/-; roosters, 4/6, 8/-; cockerels, 1/-, 3/-; turkeys, 2 2/3 lb. live weight. ■