SHORTAGE OF LEMONS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 10

SHORTAGE OF LEMONS

Retailers 7 Reply On Wastage

A reported statement that thousands of lemons were wasting on trees in the Auckland province while there was an acute shortage of the fruit in the South Island and in some parts of the North Island, has been commented on by the president of the Canterbury Retail Fruiterers’ Association (Mr L. Chapman),

Mr Chapman replying to allegations by a Kerikeri resident, Mr C. A. Giblin, that “the shortage of lemons which has developed in New Zealand seems strange while thousands of lemons remain on trees in the growing areas of the North Island.”

Mr Giblin was reported in a Press Association message from Greymouth to have said that thousands of usable lemons were wasting in the north, but that their marketing was prevented by complicated Government regulations which, if suspended for three months, would make available a useful supply to consumers in the present emergency. “A large proportion of this fruit crop would be rejected under the regulations because of size, colour, or skin blemish, but the juice content was good,” he said. “Mr Giblin doubtless means, and In fact has said that these lemons are undergrade or outsizes,” said Mr Chapman. The latter were lemons which were either too large or too small to be considered a normal commercial proposition. Under-grade would be badly blemished fruit. It was doubtful whether the quantity would be significant in relation to the whole country, he said.

“New Zealand-grown lemons are extremely poor keepers and the cost of cases, packing, wrapping, railage and sea-freight would be very high,” said Mr Chapman. “The public do not realise that the bulk of the demand over a full year is in the South Island and the southern part of the North Island. There is little demand during most of the year—May to January—in the Auckland province because most domestic gardens have their own trees. Government Regulations “To break down Agricultural Department regulations now would mean difficulty in reimposing them when full supply is again reached which would be about May. As retailers we have enough to contend with even when packing standards are maintained, as we inevitably receive much blemished and poor keeping fruit. We appreciate that everything possible is done to avoid this but the plain fact is that New Zealand-grown lemons are of quality and always have been,” said Mr Chapman. If under-grade lemons were to be sold, the association suggested this should occur in districts adjacent to thus avoiding costly packing and transport charges, he said. / 1 ; “New Zealand definitely requires moderate and steady supplies of Californian or Italian lemons during the months of January to April as they are required for sick people. This need is amply demonstrated when influenza epidemics such as the one which is still being experienced, occur,” said Mr Chapman. “New Zealand lemons are at all times expensive, particularly as the juice-content is much lower than that of the high quality sdnkissed and Italian lemons. “The Government is to be commended for permitting the importation of 5000 cartons now. We strongly urge the Minister to arrange for at least 5000 cartons monthly until and including April,” said Mr Chapman.