'Pig bin’ for bad apples

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 6

'Pig bin’ for bad apples

Poor-quality apples, covered in black spots, or just generally unappealing to the consumer, should not be offered for sale by retailers.. They should be consigned to the “pig bin.” According to the president of the Fruit and Vegetable Retailers’ Association (Mr lan Buchanan) and the regional manager of the Apple and Pear Board (Mr P. C. Trevella), there was no excuse for any retailer to be selling poor-quality apples. Both' said yesterday that any fruit offered for sale in poor condition should have been dumped or sold for no more than 10c ai kilogram. “The Apple and Pear Board gives -a 48-hour guarantee on all its produce, y Mr Trevella said yesterday, Mr Trevella was responding to criticism Sri (the last few days tha-fl apples soldi In

some Christchurch shops were spotty and generally jn poor condition. The criticism has been prompted by reports this week that early season hail and frost in some parts of Canterbury, Nelson, and Otago, damaged apple crops, which has led to a surplus of sub-standard, processinggrade fruit. “Apples sold through the Apple and Pear Board are top quality. That is why we have our 48-hour guarantee,” Mr Trevella said.

“The disaster-grade fruit from the beginning of the apple season is not, and has never been, anywhere near the - retailer. Growers are paid by weight for this fruit, which is turned into apple juice,” he said.

“Once it leaves the market floor though,- we are at the mercy of the iret'ailer. Heat from neom lights, deep-freez-

ers, and people all builds up to destroy the fruit in the display stand,” said’Mr Trevella,

“You would be surprised how many retailers : ihang on to their fruit for four, five, even six weeks. They should be buying ■ from the -market twice a week. But some of them buy only once a month, and keep it out the back where it pan only deteriorate.” Mr Trevella said that retailers were not doing themselves any good by offering poor quality apples for sale. They should put them in the “pig bin,” or sell them cheaply for use in apple pies or as stewed apples.” Mr Buchanan said that retailers with bad apples for sale only had themselves ,tb blame. 'T

Black spots* On' an apple, called “bitteri pit,” l not only affected the appearance of

the apple but also -destroyed the taste,

“Only yesterday I returned a case of apples with black spot .to the market and I was given a credit,.Bitter pit makes the apples less than first grade, and they should not be sold,” he said.

Beginning on Monday, the Apple and Pear Board 1 through the retailers, will be selling Jonathan apples (just finishing) cheaply to get rid of an- over-supply, Mr Buchanan said. Both varieties' would be selling for about 40c a kilogram and would be top quality fruit. Anything less than top quality should not be sold.

“There might be an oversupply- at the moment, but that does -not mean to say -that those being sold at’ half price next week will be (poorer quality; -they won’t be,” Mr Buchanan said.