FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 15

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

IIEPOIi-T FOR OCTOBER

Fruit inspectors of the Horticultural Division report as follows on the condition of locally-grown fruit and vegetables in shops and auction rooms, and the market position of these for tho month of October:—

Auckland.—The market has been very quiet, little local fruit of anj description having come forward. Strawberries have come forward in small quantities, but so for of a poor quality- Lemons and hot-house tomatoes aro commanding good prices, and so aro oranges. Most of tho new potatoes aro very small, anything prime selling at a good price readily. All gi'oen vegetables aro selling well. Applies (prime dessert), 13s. to Its. per case; oranges, 10. per case; lemons (prime), 10s. to ■i2s., rough and coarse, 55.; strawber7d. to Is. per chip (according to duality); new potatoes (best), 2d. to 2Sd. per lb, others, Id. to 2d. per lb (average pi-ices). | Wellington.—Tlio market throughout havo been fairly busy. Largo consignments of American apples are to hand and havo caused a slight drop iu the local grown apples. Pears are to hand m small lots and the prices are good. Several large lines of tomatoes from Ilarotonga Island have arrived in tho markets, and local .hot-house tomatoes havo dropped slightly, although thoy aro realising up to ninepence per lb. wore than the Island. Small fruits, such as' go'osehorries and strawberries, are gradually: increasing and are meeting with a ready, sale. Green peas aro forward, realising from Is. 6d. per peck. Onions aro bringing 12s. Gd. per ,1001b. case. Old potatoes are realising the largo price of £10 per ton. Now potatoes 2d. per lb. G'hristchurch.—Local stores (cool) are now in competition with Califomian apples and arc realising from 10s. 6d. ,to 14s. per case; cherries, Is. 6d. to 2s. tier lb; gooseberries. 3d. to 4d. per lb.;' lemons, 18s. per case; cucumbers. 7d. per lb; potatoes (new), 3d. to Gd. per lb: (old), £7 per ton.

Dunedin—Applies, Stunner, lis. to 13s. per case; tomatoes, ltd. to Is. per lb.; potatoes (now), 4>d. to 5Jd.; green peaa, 4d. to sd. per lb; cabbages, 2s. per dozen; cauliflowers, 3s. 6d. to Bs. 6d. per dozen; rhubarb, Id. to 2d. por lb.

Invercargill.—The market has bean very short of both local and imported fruits. A few Nelson and Canterbury apples are"-the only New Zealand fruits available, and are selling at up to 14s. per case at auction. Vegetables are also in .short' supply, but asparagus and rhubarb aro, getting more plentiful. The stores have some potatoes on hand, owing to no steamer snace being available to Australia, merchants have to depend on the Auckland market. During the month 242 sack's were shipped to Sydney by a passenger boat. Apples. 12s. to 14s. fid. per case- asparagus, 6d. to Sd. per lb; rhubarb, 2d. to 3d. per lb.; potatoes. £5 Ids. to £7 10s. per ton; c.ibbaae, 2s. to 3s. fid. per sack; canliflowcr, 2s. 6d. to 4s. (sd. nor sack: rnrsnips and car.rots, 3s. 6d. por small bag.