N.Z. APPLES SOLD IN LONDON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26672, 5 March 1952, Page 7

N.Z. APPLES SOLD IN LONDON

GRAVENSTEINS NOT POPULAR (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 4. In four minutes 1070 boxes of fancy Gravenstein apples from New Zealand were said by auction at the London fruit exchange yesterday. They were from a consignment of 11,621 boxes which arrived in the Melbourne Stgr last week, and they fetched prices ranging from 24s to 29s a box. They were the first of the new season's shipments from the Dominion, and they arrived about three weeks earlier than usual. But little interest was taken in them by wholesale buyers. Their lack of colour was criticised and buyers said that the Gravenstein, which is a soft, fleshy fruit and tends to bruise easily, was not particularly popular. At Covent Garden last week this lack of interest resulted in limited private sales being made. But as the result of a delay in American shipments this week coupled with finer weather, which attracted housewives to go out shopping, sales were made both at the London fruit exchange gnd at Covent Garden. Auctioneers said that under the circumstances the Gravensteins sold "auite well.” It Is expected that shipments of New Zealand Cox's Orange apples, due on March 29. will find a much better market than the Gravensteins. About 1.000,009 boxes of New Zealand apples will reach England this year. About 95.000 boxes will also go to Germany.