Fruit Export Competition

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 3

Fruit Export Competition

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 28. The general manager of the Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Mr A. C. Greer, is alarmed at increased apple production in Western Australia, South Africa and Europe. The increase must be viewed as yet stiffer competition for New Zealand’s increasing apple exports, he said on his return from a four-month overseas tour. Mr Greer believes the New Zealand fruit industry must “wake up” to changed marketing conditions. “Our fruit is no longer as eagerly sought as in the immediate post-war years,” he said. He said all Southern Hemisphere countries were trying to unload more fruit on a mar-

Iket that was rapidly becoming almost self-sufficient. Western Australia—which expects to be exporting more than 3,000,000 bushels of apples in 1967—had a marked advantage over New Zealand in selling its fruit in Southeast Asia, said Mr Greer. This was because of the frequency of shipping and the fact th?t fruit can be landed in Singapore in from four to six days. New Zealand must increase the frequency of shipping for its fruit exports, he said. Mr Greer said he was amazed at the development and expansion in orchard plantings and production in South Africa. South African orchardists had not had to develop as many labour-saving devices as New Zealand fruitgrowers were forced to do because of the abundance of labour. South Africa’s exports on the British market increased by 1,500,000 bushels this year, from 4,500,000 bushels last year. Three South African co-

operatives packed 60 per cent of the total export crop, ensuring uniformity of colour, size and packing, he said. Coupled with a central point for pre-cooling, excellent dock arrangements for fruit loading and the shorter distance for the fruit to be shipped, it was little wonder that London buyers said they could buy South African fruit with more confidence, Mr Greer said. Mr Greer said that there were massive replantings of Golden Delicious apples in Italy and France. “Italy hopes for an improvement in the political situation which would make it possible to resume the export of fruit to Eastern countries,” he said. However, despite the buildup in overseas production, Mr Greer said there would always be a market overseas for New Zealand fruit if a reputation for marketing a quality better than our competitors is achieved.