FRUIT EXPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 6

FRUIT EXPORT.

AUCKLAND APPLES FOR LONDON. FIRST CONSIGNMENT GONE. During the past week Auckland fruitgrowers opened their 192G export season by railing to Wellington 1000 cases of early apples — the popular Gravenstein. Last season the exports totalled 7000 cases. This season, largely as the result of the encouragement given by the Government through its Horticultural Department and in co-operation with the Fruitgrowers' Federation, it is confidently expected that the figures will total 2.">.000 cases. At any rate, space has lieen reserved for this quantity. Tin- consignment just sent forward will be pre-cjok-d in Wellington and shipped from there by the Port Hunter on February S. It consists of fine, crisp, well-coloured fruit which should open up on the London market in an attractive condition and form an auspicious introduction for subsequent shipments. The Port Hunter, it should be mentioned, will place New Zealand fruit on the London market earlier in the year than has been the rase in any previous exporting season. , The next varieties to go forward to Wellington for transhipment will be the Willie Sharpes and Golden Pippins. Subsequent consignments will be pre-eoolod in Auckland and sent direct from this port. Ten thousand cases will be ship- ; ped to London by the Tairoa about March 20, and the same vessel will take 3000 cases to South America. It should i be mentioned that the main varieties are ■ sufficiently far advanced as to make it i reasonably certain that the quantities stated will be available. It is understood j from the growers' attitude as indicated by the preliminary consignments that the j bulk of the marketing will be placed in I the hands of Colonel Gray, of the JtJoard : of Control, who is at present in Knglar.d. ' It is possible now to review the effects : on orchards of the last storm, and it is gratifynig to know that they were not so disastrous as was once feared. Indeed, a chief feature was the localised character of the cyclonic disturbance. One orchard ■ would be badly damaged and another adjacent escaped comparatively scot free. Where trees were uprooted it was noticeable that the Delicious, whose root action is weak, was the chief sufferer, with ■ Golden Pippin following next. Oene- i rally speaking, it may be said that the i damage caused by the gale will not materially affect the fruit crop of this province. j