Bd forced to dump apples

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 2

Bd forced to dump apples

JPA Wellington A record apple crop well in excess of the estimates, Combined with early-season climatic difficulties, have paused processing and marketing problems for the Apple and Pear Board. (. Commenting on a report that the board has been forced to dump apples in the South Island, the general manager of the board, Mr Jim Bremner, said in Wellington yesterday that it was bn extremely regrettable but, unavoidable decision which resulted from a sudden and large increase in the crop, a large portion of which was damaged, unmarketable fruit.

“Growers in the South Island suffered severe losses from hail and frost damage last November, and to ensure they receive some return for their fruit, the board insti-. tuted a special disaster grade earlier in the season, ■ with the intention of processing this fruit at its Nelson factory,” Mr Bremner said. “However, submissions ot this grade'exceeded all expectations, and the board's processing factory simply could not handle the volume of fruit received. Consequently we had no alternative but to bypass this reject, disaster-grade fruit,” he said.