E.E.C. Apple Danger

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 12

E.E.C. Apple Danger

) f.V.Z. Preus -Association) NELSON, Feb. 13. ; British entry to the Common Market could | eliminate half the apple growing industry in Britain as well as slashing New Zealand and Australian European exports by half. Predicting this in Nelson today, Mr R. Hiller, chairman) of the fruitgrowers' division of the National Farmers' Union of Britain, said that France, with a surplus of; more than Im tons of apples) a year, was the main source of worn if Britain entered the E E C. “The market the French) are looking at is Britain and ' its 60m people.” he said. ; “At present New Zealand! and Australia are protected! by the British import sys-) tern." he said. “This has kept apple imports from Europe and! America down to about 66.000 tons, which is only a small: percentage of the southern hemisphere import.” The recent announcement i that an order bad just been made in Brussels enabling the' Market to close its doors to a

third party at two days notice meant that a cargo of apples could be on the high seas and the doors might be closed a few days before the ship was due to berth. Mr Hiller yesterday iiad talks with the Apple and Pear Board and later with the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall), and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Carter) He said there was agree-’ merit with proposals he put forward, and he hoped that! New Zealand. British and pos ) sibly Australian producers! could make similar submissions to the British Govern-! tn ent. “What we must do now is) convince the British Government on the minimum terms; apple growers will accept if! Britain joins the Market," he' said “But, let's face it, if Britain (is determined to join she won't stay out because she cannot get good terms for apple growers."

France was building humidity and temperature controlled storage areas which would enable part of the French crop to be stored well into the middle of the southern hemisphere marketing period in Britain. Diversification was a partial answer to the threat. On his own farm near Stratford-on-Avon he had begun diversification into soft fruits with a short shelf life such as strawberries, black currants, plums and sour cherries. “In most of the fruit crops; it is unlikely that we could expect any competition from; Europe." Mr Hiller said. '