FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 17

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros., Ltd.*, Dunedin, report at ‘ follows for the week ended to-day:—-The chaff market is quiet; there is, very little demand. Prices remain steady, and the value of best quality is round about £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Any consignments coming forward are from Canterbury. A better inquiry exists for oats, but very small stocks are available. No business is passing. A Gartons are worth 3s Cd f.0.b., s.i., and B’s 3s 3d. These prices are equivalent to 2s lOd and 2s 7d respectively, sacks extra, on trucks. Sellers are offering oats at the above prices for spread delivery, April, September. The wheat market is steady, on the other hand millers are not keen to operate for delivery late iu the season. Sales of mixed lines for early delivery have been received from Canterbury at 6s on trucks, sacks extra, and Tuscan alone has been sold at 5s 9d, Canterbury sidings. Millers’ prices' are as follows:

Flour—2oo’s, £l7 10s; 100’s, £lB 10s 60’s, £lB 15s; 25’s, £l9: Bran, £6'per ton. Pollard, £8 per ton. Oatmeal—2oo’s, £18; 25’s, £l9. The potato market is easing. Larger quantities of now season’s crops are now coming forward, and some fine samples are offering round about -8s per cwt. Sales have been made for later delivery round about £4 10s to £5 per ton, on trucks, country sidings, but offering* are limited at these quotations. The onion market is also easing. Canterbury grown are starting to show cn the market, and prices are likely to ease as the season advances. Business in the fruit marts has been busy during the week. Stone fruits have been coming in in large quantities from Otago Central. Apricots and early peaches are being sent as far north as Auckland, and this has been a boon to growers, as the crops have been extra large this season. Early poaches arc now about finished, and it is expected that prices for later crops will be more remunerative to growers. Plums have been in good supply, and cherry plums have a good inquiry. Some new season's apples are also offering. These are coming forward from the Nelson district. American apples are finished. Cherries, gooseberries, and black _ currants are about finished. Loganberries and raspberries are now plentiful and in full supply. The tomato market is keeping firm. Christchurch glasshouse tomatoes are still realising fair prices. Shipments of tomatoes are coming on to this market from Nelson and the Hawke’s Bay district. The outside grown Canterbury tomatoes are late this season, and it is giving the Hawke’s Bay growers a chance to get on the market.

Oranges are now in good supply, and sales very slow on account of the stone fruit offering so freely, and are proving a loss to consignors. Lemons are sufficient to meet the demand, but prices are high. There is a poor demand for vegetables. Cabbage, lettuce, and rhubarb have been offering freely. , The egg market is steady, and all lines com- 1 ing forward are readily taken up. New season’s honey is now coming on the market, and has a fair inquiry. The butter market is steady, and cheese, is offering freely. Hams and bacon are in