CALIFORNIAN POTATOES

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 6

CALIFORNIAN POTATOES

SHIPMENTS REACHING DUNEDIN EXCELLENT QUALITY REVEALED Californian potatoes are now available to the public in fairly large quantities. A shipment of 75 bags arrived this morning, while a further 500 bags will come to hand on Friday. A still further consignment is expected next month, and will probably be the finish of the importations. . The potatoes, known, as White Rose, are this season’s crop, and are opening up in very good ance they are similar to King Edward, but are minus the pink eyes. The flesh is very white, and this docs not darken in boiling, the cooked potato remaining white and floury. They are packed in 1001 b bags, a convenient size so late in the season, when the consumer does not buy in bulk, and the price ex the market is 2£d a lb. At that they are slightly dearer than old potatoes', locally grown, but are a much better investment, as there is no wastage with them. The skin is soft and can be scraped with the finger nail. Imported to relieve the acute shortage of a month or two ago. the Californian potatoes had the effect of releasing quantities of last season’s potatoes held in the anticipation of obtaining exceptionally high prices. Consequently values of New Zealand potatoes have receded, to-day’s ex store quotation being £l7, but sales have been recorded at lower figures than that. The North Island new potatoes will be later than usual, but there should bo sufficient old and Californian potatoes to carry over till the new supplies are available. The American importations should be welcomed at a time when the quality of New Zealand potatoes is at a low ebb, and there is no doubt they will become favourites with the public.

SALE IN SOUTH ISLAND CANTERBURY GROWERS PROTEST HUNDREDS Of TONS STILL AVAILABLE [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 25. Strong feeling has been aroused among Canterbury potato growers by the action of the Government in allowing the Canadian imports to be sold in the South Island. There is a strong movement on foot to declare “ black ” merchants who are handling the shipment locally, and it is understood that the Farmers’ Union will be asked to stand by the local growers. One prominent grower said this morning that, contrary to general belief, there were hundreds of tons still available in Canterbury, mostly held in small quantities by growers. This was the class which suffered most from the disastrous glut last/season. The merchant said it was estimated at least 1,000 tons of potatoes remained to be sold in Canterbury. The Canadian imports had forced the price for local potatoes back from £l7 to £l3 a ton and had made growers suffer in consequence. Canadian potatoes are selling at a price equivalent to a cost of £2l a ton to the buyer. New Zealand potatoes, it is pointed out, had never reached this figure this season.