MARKET CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2667, 12 January 1916, Page 8

MARKET CONDITIONS

; LOCAL FRUIT & VEGETABLES Fruit Inspectors of the Horticulture ■Division report as follows 011 the condi- ' tion of locally-grown fruit and vegetables in shops and auction rooms, and the market position of these for the month of December, 1915: — AUCKLAND. . The markets have been very busy and reasonable, fruit of every variety lias , iheen ooming'fo'rward freely. The holiday -season :&nd.ot]fe Very /warm weather we •••-. lavo beei),;;haying has created a, very good demand, for all fruit, especially . strawbeh'ies,-peaclies, etc. Apples are . boing marketed in small quantities, i mostly Red Astrakhan and windfalls. Codlin moth is putting in its appear- ! ance, and-a close inspection of all auo- . tion roomsi and -shops will now be kept, and gro.wers would be well advised to' use care; : Hums are realis-" - ing; very ■ good : pnees, prime samples • making up to 7s, and Bs. a mse. Peaches are forward in fair supply, though prime • samples are . not plentiful. Average . prices are:—Apples, best, ss. to 75.; : pears, 4s. to ss. ; plum's, best English ; , varieties, 6s. to 7s:; Burbank, os. to' Cs.; others, -Is. to os. Peaches: Best coloured, os. to 75.; medium, 4s. to , ss. Strawberries,' Best, 9d. to Is. per ■ chip; others, 6d..t0 Bd. Apricpts: Best, i 10s, to 125.; good, os. to 7s. Cherries: i Is. per lb. Grapes, Is., to Is. 6d. per ■ ]b. Tomatoes: Best hothouse, Bd. to lOd.; good, 6d. to 7d. per lb.

" Soft fruits are the principal lines in the markets at present, and prices are §ood throughout. Apples are scarce, : and good prices are offering. Vegetables ■ are m good demand, with encouraging prices. Business throughout the mar- ; Jcets is beginning to liven up. CHRISTCHURCH. 'Regular and fairly large shipments of : plums and peaches are arriving from ' 'Auckland, and peaches from Teviot and Nelson.. Plums ,have arrived' in rather ' indifferent, condition from Auckland. ■ iLoeil growers are to be commended on I the adoption of trays for tlieir first-.' '.. grade apricots and peaches; there is a : good demand for this class of fruit, and good prices are realised. The following : are current prices Apples: 4s. half- : case. Pears: 4s. half-oase. I'eaches: ' Local, in trays, 7d. to 9d. lb.; local, in cases, 3d. 'to 4d. lb.; Nelson, in crates ; of three trays, 6s. to Bs.; Nelson and -Auckland, 4s. half-case ; Teviot, 3d. to • '4d. lb. Apricots: Local, in trays, 7d. . to Bd. lb.; in cases, 3d. to 4d. ■ lb. Cherries: 6d. to Bd. lb. Plums: 4s. case. ,i.' Strawberries: Bd. to Is. lb. (only .Wai../mate). Gooseberries : ■ 2d. to 3d. lb. f, Black and Red Currants: 3£d. to 4d; / lb. Tomatoes: 7d. to 9d. lb.' Lemons ', (Auckland): 12s. to 13s. Cucumbers: : '4d. to 6d. lb. Potatoes (Auckland): lid. 1 to ljd. lb.; local, 2d. to 2Jd. lb.; old,- : 10s. to 12s. sack. '

- dunedin! Fruit Pears: 2Jd. lb. Black Currants: 3Jd. to 4jjd. lb. Red Currants: 3d. to 3£d. lb. Gooseberries: Green, lid. to 2kl. lb.; ripe, 2Jd. to 4d. lb. Plums Local dessert, 2ld. to 3d.; Auckland, 2s. 6d. to 3s. per half-bushel case. Christchurch Tomatoes: 7d. to lOd. lb. Peaches: Krst arrival, Bd. lb. Apricots: 2d. to 2}d. lb. Cherries, 4Jd. to 9-Jd. lb. Hothouse Tomatoes: lOd. to Is. 4d. lb. Grapes: Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. lb. Potatoes: 14s. to 16s. 6d. per cwt. BLUFF. 'A fair quantity • of fruit has been on the market. A good many half-bushel cases, have been sent from .Nelson .and Hawke's Bay, comprising"apples, pears, peaches, -and plums. Most lines carried very well, except the peaches. Season- ' • ' i ■

able fruits from the Otago Central aro also on the market now, and are of very good quality. The month lias been a Dig one for small fruits, currants, gooseberries, strawberries, etc. Current wholesale prices:—Apples: ss. to 6s. per half-bushel ease. Pears: ss. to 6s. per half-bushel case. Cherries: 6d. to lOd. per lb. Plums: 2d. to sd. per lb. Poaches: Id. to. sd. per lb. Apricots: 2d. to sd. per lb. Gooseberries: 2d. to Jd. Strawberries: Cd. to lid. per lb. Black and Red Currants: 4d. to 6d. per lb. Cucumbers: 3d. to 6£d. per lb. Tomatoes: Bd. to Is. per lb. Potatoes: £6 to £8 per ton; new, Id. to 2d. per lb. Cabbage: 2s. 6d. to 4s. sack. Turnips and Carrots: Id. bunch. Peas: 2d. to 4<l. lb. Rhubarb: 2{d. to 3d. per lb.