DROP IN EXPORTS OF FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 208, 31 May 1935, Page 12

DROP IN EXPORTS OF FRUIT

Auckland Shipments BETTER PRICES HELP TO BRIDGE GAP Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Alay 30. The final shipment of fruit this season from Auckland province was made to-day, when the Mahia left with 8543 cases of apples. During the season 53,360 cases of apples and 5452 cases of pears were exported from Auckland, compared with 116,769 cases of applet and 5217 cases of pears last season. The principal variety of apple was Dougherty, of which 15,665 cases were exported, while next in order were Dunns, Granny Smith, Delicious, Ballarat and Cox’s Orange. The marked fall in apple exports is attributable mainly to the ban on the sale of Delicious apples on account of codlin moth infection. It is estimated that about 125,000 cases of fruit could have been shipped had this trouble not occurred. The decline in quantity, however, has been partly, compensated for by the high prices ruling on the London market, and it is considered that if these continue, growers of- Delicious apples who welit to the trouble of picking over their their fruit will be well rewarded for their trouble. The improved prices in England are considered to be due to reduced exports from Australia and New Zealand and to the effect of the Royal jubilee celebrations. Frosts have affected the early crop in Englanfl, and if the yield is decreased to any extent later varieties of New Zealand apples are expected to benefit. The season for pears, however, has been •

disappointing, over-stocking resulting in a fall in prices.