FRUIT INTERESTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 606, 8 September 1909, Page 10

FRUIT INTERESTS.

A BROKER'S ADVICE TO CROWERS. THE STORY OF STEWED PRUNES. In a paper read, at tho . New. Zealand Friiitbrokers' Coiifereuco at Wellington, yesterday afternoon, reviewing the IScw; Zealand fruit industry, Mr. A. Toonian, one of the leading Auckland brokers, said his'effort was to present, for the' benefit of growers, some of the information of value to them of which brokers in.the course of business became possessed. . He trusted his paper would-be the forerunner, of. many other papers prepared for the sanio purpose- from other districts. During his 2o years' experi-' enco as a fruitbroker he had noted many changes from the early days, when an extra cart load of fruit would glut tho market. Auckland's record fruit crop of last season realised satisfactory prices.. Apples were of satisfactory quality; find" Into apples were- in greatly increased-quantities. These late sorts kavo been largely planted in recent years, and latc-applo prices would in future ■be likely to bo lower than those of mid-sea-son apples. Apple export should bo encouraged. - Pears had not increased as fast as the doimand, and prices wero consequently higher. Increased planting,'however, had lately taken place, but ho feared many years would pass before an adequato supply of suitable pears for canning would be available. Many new varieties hod given satisfaction on'. the open market, but Williams's Bon Chretien remained still tho only good canning pear. Poaches had been more plentiful, and he hoped the old difficulty of getting peaches ;to crop' well was now overcome. •' In plums, he regretted.tho modern neglect of tho English varieties, and tho growth of Japaneso sorts to such an extent that they were regarded now almost as a pulping fruit for jam. ' ■ . ' ■ Ample supplies-' of superior .nectarines wero now produced, and. they were highly appreciated for dessert."' .. ,-■• '• Grapes,' unfortunately, were in a bad wayi. Largo areas' of dessert grapes had been planted lately in the north,'and the supply now exceeded the profitable demand. There appeared to be littlo hope of a good outlet fo r wine- grapes, owing to tho non-existence of .wino factories. , Tho fear of a glut from Australian grapes was averted by the unusual cheapness of local grapes. ' Marmalade oranges wero produced fully up to .requirements,' New Zealanders not being largo consumers of marmalade. Northern growers had, in'spite of croditablo attempts, failed to establish a profitablo, in.dustry in sweet dessert oranges, and must -abandon''it/in favour.of their nearest neighbours, the Islanders, whoso cheap, supplies were abundant. a >

■'■•'■ Tomatops had become an important crop, and their use for table purposes had "increased moro rapidly than, any other lino. Formerly regarded as fit only for sauce, they wero now used by tons in a fresh state: Apricots' wero successful chiefly on the coasts, and the supplies, which .wore much in demand, came "principally from'Gisborne, Thames, Hawke's Bay, and Nelson. Gooseberries.had' largely .decreased, in Auckland, owing to dearness of, labour,' aid •to a root fungus. . .' . •■ Fruit-canning was =-worthy 'of much encouragement. It should bo ono of New Zealand's chief industries, and imported canned fruit should become a thing of. tho past. Auckland, which should be first in this matter, seemed, to bo almost, last. .The fruits chiefly needed.for canning.wero pears, peaches, apricots; and a moderate quantity of apples. Only the. most snitablo varieties, should bo grown for this purpose." Tho fact that, in spite of yincreascd-canning in -New Zealand, last season thoro had been increased, imports,, was duo to tho exceptional season'in California, and tho depression in the world's trade. •'. Auckland'could produce good pears and peaches, hut would-need to get its apricots from other .districts to make up its "aSsoftod cases.""' Local r '.'canned pears, being, of .t-hp.wrong varieties, could not now compote against Californian. Tho Williams's Bon Chretien, packed by Californiaais, canned white, while other varieties canned in New Zealand turned .put pinkish. Canned plums were riot'in request. • Unfortunately labour, by frightening capital away, 'was endangering the establishment .of this industry--m New • Zcahuull Tho'-- labour obst-aclo was, practically tho only one... An export '.industry .in .canned .fruit could not 'bo hoped;for,.as we could 1 not compete", .abroad with otkfcr countries, in exceptional, seasons. "'.';> The removal of'the duty on dried'fruits had greatly increased :their use, and he believed that removal was very unfair -to New Zealand fruitgrowers. "American prunes had been retailed here at'slb. a shilling, which was .equivalent to 351b. of fresh plums a shilling.,.-..1n Auckland boardinehousos and restaurants one rarely found fresh ' frnitpies on tho menu, even in tho height of tho season,' hill always'."prunes and rice," ""rico pudding," "stowed prunes," etc. This was due to tho cheapness of the dried imports, and also to tho greater convenience 'of rervants, who wore often tho masters. Once ho asked an Auckland ; restaurant-keeper why he always put, on prunes and scarcely 'over peaches, though they wero retailing at 24 for a shilling. He replied: "Well, . d man, if you had to'deal with cooks and servants such as wo get, you'.would know all about it. Why, if I sent a case of peaches into tho kitchen, they would cat half of them to start with, and tho cook would find it too much trouble to prepare the balance." . In tho course of a brief discussion, it was resolved to' bring the need of reinstating, tho duty on dried fruits before the notice of the Minister for. Agriculture. Mr. Tooman received a hearty vote of thanks for his paper. '