FRUIT EXPORT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 12

FRUIT EXPORT.

POSSIBILITIES IN CANTERBURY. POOLING OF PEARS SUGGESTED. The anticipated big crops 'of fruit in Canterbury this season may lead to growers deciding to go in for exporting. The matter was discussed at Saturday night's meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association. The chairman (Mr E. Freeman) asked Mr F. W. Cone if he could give juiy information as to the average price obtained on the London market this year. Mr Cone said he did not know if ail the returns had been completed. A good many of the growers had a little more coming to them than they anticipated, some up to 2s per case. ("t>on the whole, tno results had turn-f-d out pretty fairly. He did not think that the Government would be called oji under its guarantee. The time MiCined opportune that they in Canterbury should seriously consider exporting. They knew what a disaster the pear crop was last season, and he thought that it would be possible for a dozen, or half a dozen growers to ship Winter Coles this season. Each grower might be abio to get a hundred cases lit for export, and though lines as few as 20 cases were accepted, buyers who wanted a thousand cases would not be bothered picking up small lots. If it was considered worth while, he suggested that growers should pool their pears lor export and send them to one central place to be graded and packed. He was willing to be one to pool his pears. He explained the procedure in connexion with the Government's guarantee. Mr L. Paynter, Government Orchard Instructor, said that ho was pleased that the subject had been brought up, as he understood that the Loburn growers contemplated exporting this reason. Although there might be no forgone in exporting,, every case exported mado the New Zealand market better for the remaining fruit. Canterbury growers had a wonderful market right at their doors and they were tempted to use it to the exclusion of other markets,. but .those who decided to expdrt would help'' to get better prices in the local market. He would i». glad • to. give' all possible information .to thoGe who contemplated' exporting. The regulations for the present year were expected to be issued shortly and he hopea to be able to bring a copy to the next meeting. All fruit for export must be-packed in the new Canadian case. Fivo growers of pears present at the meeting' signified- their willingness to join in the pool, and Mr Paynter undertook to see other growers or pears with the object of . getting together a ship" ment of at least 1000 cases.