Reasonably Good Crops Of All Fruit Forecast

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 7

Reasonably Good Crops Of All Fruit Forecast

Reasonably good crops of pip, stone and berry fruits can be expected during the coming season, according to forecasts made by officers of the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture at the end of November. These forecasts give a general indication of crop prospects and are based on satisfactory weather continuing up to harvest time. The apple crop forecast of 3,852,000 bushels is approximately 100,000 bushels lower than last season’s crop, but is 204,000 bushels or 6 per cent, in excess of the six-year average production of 3,648,000 bushels. The two major apple producing areas are Nelson and Hawke’s Bay. In Nelson an increase of 9 per cent, on last season’s crop is forecast while the Hawke’s Bay crop shows a decrease of 17 per cent on last season’s, which was a record.

Pear production is forecast at 731,000 bushels, an increase of 155,000 bushels or 27 per cent, on last season’s crop and 18 per cent, in excess of the six-year average production of 617,000 bushels. Hawke’s Bay with a forecast of 368,000 bushels and Nelson with 207,000 bushels are the major pear producing districts. Stone Fruits The stone fruit crop, forecast at 1,135.000 bushels overall, is only 5000 bushels less than last season’s heavy crop, though there is considerable variation in the crops forecast for some kinds of stone fruit The apricot crop is forecast at 187,000 bushels, which though 29,000 bushels less than last season’s, is still in excess of the six-year average production of 185,000 bushels. Central Otago, the main apricot producing area, is expected to produce 163,000 bushels or 87 per cent, of the current season’s total crop. The cherry crop, which is also produced mainly in Central Otago, is forecast at 16.000 bushels —about the same as last season’s crop and slightly below the sixyear average production of 16,500 bushels.

Nectarine production, forecast at 62.000 bushels, exceeds last season's crop by 10,000 bushels and the six-year average production figure of 45.000 bushels by 37 per cent. In Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay, the main producing areas, crops are forecast at 31.000 bushels and 17.000 bushels respectively. The total peaeh crop is forecast at 688,000 bushels. This is 16,000

bushels less than last season’s but 12 per cent, higher than the six-year average production of 613.000 bushels. Crops in the main peach producing areas are estimated at: Hawke’s Bay, 412,000 bushels; Central Otago, 107,000 bushels; and Auckland, 85,000 bushels. This season’s plum crop, which is forecast at 182,000 bushels, exceeds last season’s by 16,000 bushels and is also 7000 bushels higher .than the six-year average production of 175,000 bushels. Hawke’s Bay with a crop forecast of 83,000 bushels, Auckland with 44,000 bushels, and Central Otago with 31,000 bushels are the main producing areas. Berry. Fruits The forecast for all berry fruits (boysenberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, loganberries, and black currants) shows an increase over last season's production and is considerably higher than the six-year average production for these fruits. The boysenberry crop, produced mainly in Nelson and Hawke’s Bay, is forecast at 57 tons, six tons more than for last season. The black currant crop forecast of 83 tons (Canterbury 52 tons and Wairarapa 24 tons), is seven tons less than last season’s production and also nine tons lower than the six-year average. The gooseberry crop forecast of 143 tons is lower than last season’s production by 12 tons, but exceeds the six-year average production by eight tons. Wairarapa. with a forecast crop of 126 tons, is the main gooseberry producing area. Raspberry production is forecast at 959 tons, the main producing areas being Canterbury <250 tons). North Otago (185 tons), Nelson <3OB tons), Wellington Province <125 tons), and Central Otago <47 tons). 'Hie crop forecast for this season is 35 tons greater thin last season’s crop and considerably in excess of the six-year average. Strawberry production is increasing considerably. This season’s forecast of 911 tons shows an increase of about 200 tons on ' as * Kea,ons production and exceeds the six-year average production of 732 tons by 179 tons. This is due to an increase in the area planted in strawberries. Main oroducing areas for strawberries are Auckland <425 tons). Wellington Province <l4<l tons). Canterbury and North Osgo <177 tons) r’entral Otago <9O tons), and Hawkes Bay <5O tons).