MARKETING OF APPLES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26198, 23 August 1950, Page 5

MARKETING OF APPLES

GROWERS CRITICAL • CONSUMER ENTITLED TO GREATER VARIETY” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 22. New Zealand’s Internal fruit marketing system was criticised by the president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation (Mr A. E. Congdpn) at the .annual conference to-day of the federation. Mr Congdon said “the Apple and Pear Marketing Board allowed only one variety of fruit to be sold to New Zealand consumers until all stocks of the variety were exhausted. “This is why so much fruit which has been out of condition has been marketed this year,” he said. ‘‘ln the main, we are happy about the apple and pear marketing scheme, but to a great extent this practice of the board has made us unhappy. I know that lack of cool storage facilities and difficulties with the transport of Nelson’s large crops are headaches for the board, but we feel that consumers’ needs should be watched more carefully. If they are not. we will find from time to time that we will not get the support from the public which could be expected.

“Consumers are entitled to a greater variety of apples,” continued Mr Congdon. “In Auckland, at one stage, the only varieties of apples on the market were over-ripe Jonathans and Ballarats. At present the board is marketing Granny Smiths, but it is getting farly late in the season for them*. Thus, before we know where we are. these Granny Smiths will be out of condition.

“I know the board will take this criticism fairly. We know the board has a tremendous job to do in marketing our fruit.”

jyir V. Astell (Marlborough) said that the same position would exist until two-thirds of New Zealand’s apples were marketed overseas. “I know that the English market is unsatisfactory, but there are other markets which could be investigated on the Continent or in the dollar area,” he said.

Mr F. E. Clark (Nelson) said that Motueka had produced its finest apple crop of 400,000 cases this year, but the conditions surrounding their disposal to the board had been chaotic. “Unfortunately, we were 1 not able to submit apples to the assembly points during fine days,” he explained. Mr J. Chignell (Nelson) said: “It breaks our heart to see this fruit handled as it often is after it leaves our hands.”