CARROTS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24610, 5 July 1945, Page 6

CARROTS

Sir,—Much praise has just recently •been given the commercial vegetable growers for their remarkable increase in the growing of vegetables these last two years. Canterbury growers have very largely contributed to this enormous increase, especially in the growing of carrots. Thousands of tons have been grown in the Marshland district. The nature of its soil makes it perhaps the best.district in the Dominion for growing this health-giving vegetable. Contracts for growing carrots tor the coming season are now being made by the Internal Marketing Division, but, strange to say. other provinces are being considered, but not Canterbury. Marshland growers, because of the very wet season, have had a difficult time with their carrots this year, poorer crops, blemishes, and high costs for picking and grading contributing. Partly because of this, growers are surely more worthy of consideration than they are at present receiving.— Yours, etc., June 29, 1945. FAIR DEAL. [Commenting on this letter, the vegetable supply officer of the Internal Marketing Division, Christchurch (Mr M. Rousham) says;—“ The contracts entered into by the Internal Marketing Division with growers are governed entirely by the requirements of the armed forces in the Pacific war zone; and the contracts that are oeing entered into by the division are fqr export purposes only and hot for civilian requirements. The main purpose of the factory is to dehydrate potatoes, but owing to the shortage of potatoes during 1944-45, a quantity of carrots was put through the dehydration factory in Christchurch. The Internal Marketing Division has received and fully appreciates the co-operation of the Canterbury growers in supplying the carrots for this purpose; and as potatoes or carrots suitable for dehydration are not available during the/ months of January, February, or March, the division is calling for the supply of large quantities of cabbage to be grown in Canterbury during that period. Under present war conditions. other vegetables may be required by the division, and Canterbury growers may rest assured that they will be given every opportunity to contract for the supplies.”]