PASSION FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 185, 6 August 1932, Page 7

PASSION FRUIT.

EXPERIMENTAL SHIPMENT. FAVOURABLE REPORT. VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNED. During the last two years considerable renewed attention has been devoted in the Auckland district to the cultivation of passion fruit, various new areas having been planted with vines, in the hope that larger quantities of this fruit could be grown and disposed of locally, and by shipment overseas. In order to test the possibility of marketing the considerable supplies of passion fruit which would arise from present plantings, and to ascertain what arrangements were necessary for satisfactory transport, the fruit cold storage committee of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, authorised arrangements for the dispatch of a trial shipment of passion fruit to London during the 1932 fruit season. A joint report of what happened has now been furnished by the cold storage officer, Department of Agriculture, Mr. It. Sutherland, and by Mr. F. R. Callaghan, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Shipped Last March. Passion fruit, of the variety Passiflora edulis, grown at Kerikeri, was collected and packed in experimental lots, covering nine different methods of packing. The fruit gathered was practically the last of the season's crop. The selection, (gathering and transport of the fruit from Kerikeri to Auckland was left in the hands of the grower. In Auckland investigations showed that some of,the fruit was inclined to shrivel, and it was repacked. There were 32 cases, and on March 21 last 22 of these were shipped aboard the s.s. Kent, 10 eases being held in cool storage in Auckland as "controls," for comparison with results reported from inspection overseas. The shipped cases were placed in a 'tween deck.

The fruit arrived in London on May 6, where a commercial report was made and scientific opinions were obtained. Messrs. T. J. Poupart, Ltd., took 19 cases for sale on commission, .and the following prices were realised, each case containing nine dozen fruits. —Six cases, 20/; three cases, 18/; three cases, 10/; one case, 8/; another case, 0/. Five cases were sold and destroyed. "Excellent Quality." Messrs. Poupart, in a report to the High Commissioner, said: —"The fruit, on the whole,-was of excellent quality, 'good flavour, and contained more edible matter than any we have seen before. The general condition was satisfactory, but the fruit varied in each of the experimental boxes, and, unfortunately, a number of them were badly shrivelled, although, on the other hand, a number ot them were in perfect condition. On repacking some of the fruit was sold at top prices. It should arrive in future between March and October, so as not to clash with those received from Madeira and South Africa." Publicity Needed. Mr. Turner, London manager of the Fruit Export Control Board, said the condition of the whole fruit was reasonably sound, the fullness and flavoui of its contents being good. "It is at pi esent a luxury line, and the capacity of the market is very limited, too limited at present to give scope for any reasonable quantity for export." He thought that a lower price would be acceptable by growers at present, unless there was propaganda to familiarise the general public with the excellence and flavour of the fruit for flavouring, fruit salads, etc. Advertising the quality of the fruit was absolutely essential, since the British public imperfectly understood the passion fruit's especial merits. The experiment, it is considered, indicated conclusively (1) that it is now physically possible to tranship from New Zealand to British and Continental markets passion fruit,in good condition; that better quality fruit could be sent, owing to the fact that the Departmental shipment sent was a very late picking; (3) that the materials used for packing (cork and sawdust) could be considerably improved upon. The grading of the' fruit is realised as essential, and careful attention must be paid to pick-ling-it at the right etago of maturity.