Free Marketing Of Apples Advocated

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 1

Free Marketing Of Apples Advocated

Because fruiterers were prohibited from buying apples directly from orchards, the public were forced to pay exorbitant prices in fruit shops, said the president of the Canterbury Fruit Retailers’ Association (Mr K. A. Fuller).

"Because we are allowed to purchase only apples which come from the Apple and Pear Marketing Board we are having to pay double the price the grower charges the public for choice, fresh fruit,” he said yesterday. Apples were a main item of sale, but many fruit retailers were becoming desperate over

i a fall to turn-over of this im- . portant fruit “If the situation continues, f many will be forced out of business to join the lengthening list in a fast-diminishing

industry," Mr Fuller said. . Because of loopholes in the legislation and the evident failure of governing bodies to act, or accept the truth, private enterprise and the public were the sufferers.

Mr Fuller said the public should realise that a large proportion of apples made available by the Apple and Pear Board for sale to fruiterers was at exorbitant prices. The board , fixed prices at the beginning of the season.

In addition, retailers were obliged to pay monthly rates for cold storage to enable the public to obtain apples toward the end of the year. “Retailers in Canterbury are suffering, more than those in any etiier region in New Zealand, through orchard sales directly to the public,” Mr Fuller said. This was because orchards were practically in suburban areas, and people did not have to drive long distances i as they had to in some . centres. Mr Fuller said he had been forced to pay $4.10 a bushel t case for top grade Delicious i apples and $2.95 for a case of , Stunners. This was the ( wholesale price, he said. A check with an orchardist showed that Delicious apples were selling at $2 to $2.50 a bushel and Stunners at $2. “When the orchardist has , had his fast and furious fling , for •*• few months, he then i takes down his signs and . hibernates, leaving the fruiterer to grovel in the husks,” I Mr Fuller said. He saw no reason why fruit . retailers should not be allowed to purchase apples , from the growers. An export : industry should be supported, , but surely the Apple and Pear Board could remove control in some areas in the interests of all concerned.