ACCEPTANCE OF N.Z. FRUIT OVERSEAS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 16

ACCEPTANCE OF N.Z. FRUIT OVERSEAS

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 29. Although building up new markets for New Zealand fruit was a slow process, once the quality had become known there was a far greater acceptance of it overseas, said the deputymanager of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board (Mr D. L. Waller) today. He returned recently from • visit to North America, Panama, Peru, and Honolulu. Mr Waller said the board had increased its exports from 524.(XX) cases in 1949 to a record 2.666,000 in 1962. In 1949 the board shipped to only four different countries. Last year fruit was

shipped to 32 different markets and it was planned to extend the number as soon as practicable. The board had increased shipments in North, Central and South America from 98.000 cases in 1960, to 188,000 last year. In the coming season it was estimated the figure should reach 260,000 cases. The most spectacular increase was in Vancourver to where exports had increased from 3000 cases in 1960 to 40,000 last year. In Venezuela, where there was strong competition from Argentina. New Zealand’s exports had risen from 10,000 in 1958, to 50,000 cases in 1962. Other markets being serviced in that area were Montreal, San Francisco, Los

Angeles, Seattle, Honolulu, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Bermuda, Panama, Peru, Aruba, Curacao, Antigua, Haiti, and the States of North and South Carolina and Texas.

In addition, it was hoped tn send trial shipments to several other States this year.