“Best Fruit Sold At Gate”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 3

“Best Fruit Sold At Gate”

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Nov. 22. Fruitgrowers are selling their best fruit at the gate and disposing of “their unwanted products” to the Apple and Pear Board, according to the Federation of Retail Fruiterers and Greengrocers. Mr R. L Peace, president of the federation, said today that retailers were being supplied with too much second-grade fruit. "In many cases, fruit

graded ‘fancy’ has really been ‘commercial’ grade,” he said. ‘There is also far too much large-sized fruit, and very poor supplies of pre-packed fruit.”

A recent report by a federation committee said retailers were convinced that growers were selling their best fruit at the gate. By law, the board was compelled to buy the unwanted varieties and sizes the growers offered to it. “Releases of some varieties are also far too late,” said Mr Peace. “Until about May, orchards and roadside shops are selling varieties four to five weeks before the same fruit is available from the board.” Mr Peace said that the federation discussed the prob-

lems with the board at a special meeting a year ago and several recommendations were made to the Government. “But so far nothing had been done. These problems must be solved urgently.” The chairman of the board (Mr K. B. Longmore) said there was no evidence to support the claim that the best fruit was sold at the gate. “The probability is that the best fruit is sold to the board. Department of Agriculture inspectors check all fruit sold to the board, but the public are their own inspectors,” he said. The federation’s claim that fruit was being retailed up to five weeks after roadside stalls was partly due to the machinery involved, said Mr Longmore.

“If the grower wants to take fruit from his trees, he can whip it straight on t 6 a roadside stall 50 yards away. If he sells it to the board he has to engage labour to pick it, pack it and then have it inspected. “The board also has an obligation to market fruit all the year round, which involves storing the fruit and distributing it during the year. Under these circumstances, some of the fruit will inevitably get on to the market before it reaches us.” Recommendations made to the Government by the federation and the board after a meeting last January had not been acted upon yet by the Government, but this was a matter for the Government, said Mr Longmore.