Increase In Price Of Apples

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 1

Increase In Price Of Apples

(N Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 2.

The prices of all the main grades of apples were increased by the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board today.

Increases, in some cases the second since the Government price freeze was lifted last month, ranged from 20c to 25c a 401 b case.

The general manager of the board (Mr D. L. Waller) said today that the wholesale price of apples this year was below that of lakt year. “At the time when we would normally have raised our prices, we were subject to the Government price freeze, and could not do so,” he said. “We estimate that the price freeze has cost us $lOO,OOO in revenue this year."

Mr Waller said the board had had to increase apple prices sharply to a level which would normally have been attained gradually. Wellington retailers approached today said that sales had already dropped because of the increased prices. Increases per 401 b case in the three main ton-grade apples are: Delicious, $3.50 to $3.95); Sturmers, $2.95 to $3.75 (this time last year, $3.20 (last year, $3.50); Granny Smith, $3.75 to $3.95.