THE FRUIT SEASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1919, Page 4

THE FRUIT SEASON.

STRAWBERRIES CHEAPER YEBTER' DAY. OTHER FRUITS SCARCE. The prospects for an abundant supply! of cheap fruit for the Christmas season in Taranaki are not very encouraging. Bananas, which have been in short sup* ply for some time, are likely to be scarce, The next shipment is not expected until about the 28th. The best lines are now 35s per case in the open market, and these are being retailed at 7d per lb, which, when losses are taken into account, leaves very little margin for tM fruiterer. Island oranges are very 1 6carce, and American and Australian ar« marked at 3, 4, and 6 for a shilling. Apples are also dearer than usual, good keeping sorts being in the vicinity of la per lb. Strawberries, which make Is 2d in the open market, were at New Plymouth yesterday retailed at Is 6d and Is 6d per, box, but there is hope of thesa coming a little lower yet. At the open} ing of the season, about a month ago! they were 3a Gd. < Other small fruits are coming forward) in fairly good quantities, but altogether fruit is dearer at the present time thai it has ever been in New Zealand, and rel tailers state that when all the loss from wastage is taken into account, there is very little profit in the business. So far as the Island trade is concerned, the prospects look a little brighter for the New Year. Shipping facilities haw largely; affected the position, but there it likely) to be a distinct imporvement in the neai tuture, as the two boats by which th 3 ■rado was maintained p.ior to the wa* are shortly to resume the former service] Ihe coming season promises to be an excellent one for apples and pears, wbicji up to the present have shown little evil dence of the black spot which affected tbi fruit badly last year (says the Auckland Herald). In speaking of the general prospect for a good fruit season, Mr. p. Turner, of E. Turner and Sons, Ltd., said that from present indications the crop'of plums would probably be light this year, as the fruit did not seem to have set n-nll. It was still rather early to judge of peaches and nectarines, but many* orchards would probably have lighter trope han last season. The strawberry crop, however, was exceptionally good, and the \ quality of the fruit had never tysen bet* ' ter There was a drop in prices at Monday s sales the best ships selling at Is to s id wholesale, and second quality B fc *r d ,.~ , This waa Btated to bi due Wellington. Until last year the Rail. way Department provided a truck for the carriage of strawberries, but now onl* about 50 crates were taken in the guard'i van This kept back a great daal o! fruit, and had the effect of l owet^