EXPORT APPLES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 15

EXPORT APPLES

NELSON'S SHIPMENTS

THE BUSH COMING

Apples for export so far this season are not coming forward in the quantities anticipated, but a big rush, is expected in the next few weeks, when exporters will1 be working on the Jonathan and Delicious varieties. Up to the end of February the cases shipped numbered about 20,000 less than the total up to the same date last year. At present the quotas for tho Continent are being filled,' but there is not enough fruit coming forward from the orchards to fill the .space .booked for shipments, to England. .... However, in spite of the slow start, the prospects are for a much larger export crop than last year. A' re-estimate taken from growers last: week, showed that 758,000 cases of apples were expected to be sent overseas from .the province, an i increase of 130,000 cases over last year's I export. The estimate of-pears was 21,000, which was also an increase over last year's figures for. the fruit. The slow start and the eventual large .export will make the next two months very busy ones for those handling fruit. The Jonathan variety, is being accepted for inspection this week,' and Delicious will be taken next week. Dunn's are the principal variety coming, forward at present. • The last day.-for the 'acceptance of Cox's Orange is 14th March.. The first boat to take a direct shipment will be the Otaki, which is scheduled to arrive on 20th March to load 64,000 eases—3s,ooo for Manchester, 25,000 for Glasgow, and 4000 for Kio de Janeiro. All direct shipments for Nelson this year will be pre-cooled, and for the Otaki 35,000 will pass through the Stoke cool stores and 24,000 through the ■ Motuoka stores. <. Piecooling will commence on about 14th March. The steamer Zealandic will take the second direct shipment of 30,000 for- England. In addition'to. the apples, this ship, which has suitable storage accommodation, will take a quantity of pears which will also be pre-cooled. It is anticipated that three additional' direct shipments will be arranged for. Nelson at this week's meeting of tho Shipping Committee in Wellington. The excess of rain.in the early part of the season released the potash content of the soil, resulting in the apples ! being better coloured than last year. The apples are generally smaller this year, but the crops are Heavier. Mr. J. Brunt, the local supervisor, states that shipping .arrangements have been very, satisfactory up to date.