PLUMS AND PEACHES GLUT FRUIT MARKET

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1947, Page 2

PLUMS AND PEACHES GLUT FRUIT MARKET

WELLINGTON, Dec. 30. - A glut ot' plums and peaches liad dpveloped 011 the Wellington markets this week followingtlarge arrivals from llie Hawke 's Bay. Deliveries in Wellington liad been up to 100 per cent. above nonnal. Prices in the fruit marts have averaged about balf those usual at. this tinie of the year. Potatoes are also in over supply with large quantitie's arrivivig **' fi'bnf 'th'e'"' dikb'orhe,, ilawke's Bay, Nelson and Manawata distriets. Otlier fruit and vegetables are in nonnal supply. The Wellington Fruit Betailers' Association has deeided, iu yiew of the abnornial suppiies of peaches aud plums ou liand, to open on Friday this weeii as well as on Saturday, to enable the pulTlic to benelit to tlie masiuiuui. Oase lots of peaches and plums will, it is stated, be made available at retaiJ shops at from lis to 10s a case accord ing to qualily. Peaches aud plums from ilawke's Bay have been plenliful in Wellington since before Christmas but it is onlv since the breuk in picking due to the Christmas holiday period and eonsequent heavier suppiies ready for picking since Christmas, tliat the retiJ glut has dexeloped. It is estiinatcd tliat because of the favourable spring and earl.V summer weather iu Ilawke's Bav, peaches and plums are ready for the market this season about three weeks' earlier than usual and iii addition tlu crop is reported to be a record oue. Prices in the Wellington auction marts todav rangcd from 2s to 7s a 201b casi for botli plums and peaches" or about lialt' that normally, obtained at this 1 i ihe of the* year and good elearaneeiwere made at these prices. Furthei large suppiies are expected to reacli the markets tomorrow. Prices folieaches and plums varied in different Wellington fruit shops yesterday afteriioon, Ihe lowest priee's ranging from 1l a lb. upwards with cxtra faucy gradcs •at ls and over. An ofiicial of the Price Tribunal said there were at present no ceiling prices for stone fruit and current prices wero determined by supply and demaud ou the free market. Price orders fo; peaches, it is stated, becoine effectjve on January 5 and for apricots 011 January 10. _