Canning Pears For Export

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 10

Canning Pears For Export

(N.Z. Press Association) NELSON, February 15. Peers will be canned for export a<t the Apple and Pear Board's fruit juice factory at Stoke this season, but none will be sold in New Zealand The deputy chairman of the board (Mr H R Sampson) ‘told a meeting of district fruitgrowers at Redwoods Valley that the New Zealand market would be left to canners already in the business The board, be said, was very satisfied indeed with the operations of the factory Products had been remarkably successful and the de-

mand had exceeded expectations. The factory had not operated for a full year but the board was satisfied with the returns. The introduction of the factory meant a great relief to the industry. Last year 300,000 cases of apples of a quality which would have caused criticism had been withdrawn from the New Zealand market and processed The board expected to process up to 400,000 cases this season The chairman of the board (Mr J. H. Parker) announced that the board was planning

to build a 100,000-case cool store in Hawke’s Bay this season and a store capable of holding 80.000 cases in Blenheim. Another board member, Mr W Benzies. told growers that in four or five years the New Zealand crop was expected to double tn about If million cases. Keener competition could be expected and production costs must be kept down Of all markets, the domestic market in New Zealand was at present the most important to the board. Fifty per cent of the present crop was used locally—a high consumption per head of population