APPLE COMPLEX

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 12

APPLE COMPLEX

SOMETHING TO MASTER

Anyone but a New Zealand orchardist might imagine the apple business to be just growing, picking, and sending the fruit to market. There's more to. it than, that. Splitting hairs seems a rough sort of job compared with what the grower must know and do to comply with grading standards. So much is evident to lay persons on studying what is called a "synopsis" of grading standards for apples under the New Zealand Fruit Regulations, 1940. This is published by the official organ of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation.

Firstly, all varieties of fruit must be classified as "solid red," "partial red," "striped," or "yellow and green." 'This definition of colour, by the way, has no political significance. Colour having been defined, the grade has to be decided as ■ "X.F.," "F.," or "C." That point having been settled, allowances have to be made for possible and probable defects in the'individual apple. For instance, "solid reds" of X.F. grade require to have 70 per cent. of colour whereas C grade need have but 10 per cent. Provision" is made for variations in colour. Colour is not all that has to be determined. There are also blemishes, and for these 3 per cent, is the limit for all apples, of any colour as to X.F. and F.; although in C grade 5 per cent, blemish appears to pass. Bruises of one inch and no more may get by/but here "tolerance for market inspectors only" is stipulated. Dry cracks of one-eighth of an inch, may go with. X.F. grade, and quarter of an inch with F's, but C's may have cracks of half an inch. No hail marks may appear on X.F.s, whereas from Jin to 3-Bin cracks will pass in C's. Stings, russet, punctures, black spot, and shrivel all carry their limitations, but the-last must be "very slight"; in X.F., while "moderate" in C grade will go. : Minimum sizes or counts are fixed;, these range from 252 down to 216; and culinary varieties to 180. "Blushed" fruit, arid "tracery" in russeted apples must also be given "consideration in the presentation of the fruit for grading and marketing. This "synopsis" need not worry the consumer, but it may evoke in him. a sigh of sympathy with ithe producer called upon to master its complexities.