Drop In Frozen Food Exports: Price Cuts

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28346, 3 August 1957, Page 14

Drop In Frozen Food Exports: Price Cuts

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 2. The accumulation of large stocks of deep-frozen vegetables because of earlier over-optimistic market expectations and a virtual standstill of exports- to Australia are believed in Auckland trade circles to be behind the recent substantial price cuts in several popular packs of Heep-frozen peas and beans. Tons of peas and beans for the Australian, market are said to have remained unsold because Australian importers, although holding sufficient licences, are not buying because of big local winter crops. Fresh beans and peas are selling in Sydney shops at 6d to 9d per lb. New Zealand deep-frozen vegetables exported to Australia late last year and early this year are for the greater part still in the warehouses. These stocks are said to be “quite heavy.*’ “No Restrictions’’ “There i~ no question of Government restrictions on the im-

portation of New Zealand frozen foods,” the Australian Trade Commissioner in Auckland (Mr B. G. Dawson) said today. “Importers are not buying as long as th Ir stocks are so heavy.’’ Mr Dawson said that the consumption of deep-frozen foods in Australia was not anywhere near the level of New Zealand consumption, because of insufficient retail outlets. There was a rapid growth in consumptic: and the development of retail outlets, but nc' rapid enough to absorb both local and New Zealand products Mr Dawson said. “But no doubt that time will come even soon, and if we have a bad winter crop, as happened last year, we’ll be screaming for the stuff.’’

A big expansion of food packers* growing acreage in Australia was unlikely, Mr Dawson said, and as the demand grew there woiild be an increasing market for New Zealand products.