DISPOSAL OF APPLE CROP

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 13

DISPOSAL OF APPLE CROP

Plans For This Season

GROWERS ASKED TO STORE FRUIT AT ORCHARDS

Dominion Special Service

HASTINGS, March 7.

An urgent appeal to fruitgrowers to cooperate fully with the Internal Marketing Division by storing the maximum amount of fruit at orchards was made by Mr. AV. Benzies, assembly supervisor, addressing Hawke’s Bay orchardists. Mr. Benzies also issued a warning that if there came a time when extra . cool storage was needed for exportable meat accommodation for fruit would receive secondary consideration.

Last season’s operations showed that the normal consumption of pip fruit was 45,000 cases a week, though the market could consume between 50,000 and 60,000 cases, said Sir. Benzies. The department aimed at a healthy market with rather a low price that would keep the fruit flowing and put it within the reach of everyone.

Dealing with the coming season’s operations, Mr. Benzies said that an endeavour would be made to cool store Hawke’s Bay and Nelson crops of Delicious apples. After having cleared Auckland’s crop it was planned to keep Sturmers off the market till the end of May. With cookers the idea was that Hawke’s Bay and Nelson Ballarnts be held in orchards till the Dunns were almost exhausted.

To ensure a reasonable spread of fruit on the market Mr. Benzies said it would be necessary for between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 cases to be held in store in orchards till the end of May.