APPLE MARKETING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20164, 6 February 1940, Page 6

APPLE MARKETING

FRUIT FOR GISBORNE HAWKE’S BAY SUPPLIES GOVERNMENT SCHEME EARLY VARIETIES SHORT Only small quantities of fruit have come to hand in Gisboime so far under the Government scheme of local marketing of the apple and pear crops, and in view of the shortage of early varieties arrangements are being made to secure supplies from Hawke’s Bay immediately. The Government marketing scheme commenced yesterday, from which time all x>ip fruit intended for the retail trade must pass through a depot appointed by the Marketing Department. In the depot the fruit will be inspected in the same manner in which it was done for export in the past, and then will be sold to retailers. It is an offence for growers to sell direct to the retailers, and in such cases both the grower and the retailer are held liable. Because of the hail damage on Boxing Day, the apple and pear crop of the district will be reauced by 40,000 cases, or about half of a normal season's crop. Even in normal seasons, the pip fruit available in February is comparatively small, and the storm damage has accentuated the position this year.- In order to make up the present shortage, therefore, the Hawke’s Bay district is being relied upon to satisfy the demand. It was stated to-day that the supply of apples and pears would be on as cheap a basis as possible, and that sales had been made for first grade eating apples for early delivery at Os a case’ from the Gisborne store. Growers are to be paid on a basis of 5s a case, although a portion of the amount is to be retained for disbursement later in the year.

Hail Damage

The hail damage, following careful inspections after its effect has become apparent, is fully as severe as was estimated at the time. Apart from the 40,000 cases of apples and pears that have been lost, there are about 2500 cases of tomatoes, 5000 cases of stone fruit and about 400 cases of quinces. Some growers lost all, one about 9000 cases of apples and pears, in addition to other fruit, another 8500 cases, and a third 500 cases. One of the biggest orchards, which expected to have 13,000 cases available, will not be able to market more than 4000 cases. In addition to this, outside the main area of destruction growers are finding that fruit that at the time appeared in good condition is showing the effects of the hail. Up to a certain extent, hail-marked fruit is being accepted for marketing, but beyond a certain point it must be removed from the trees. For some weeks 20 men have been employed by the Government removing damaged fruit. The men are being provided free' by the Government in an endeavour to offset some of the loss occasioned by growers, and a tribute to the manner in which the men were working was paid to-day by the orchard instructor, Mr. J. D. Kennedy, who said that an efficient lot of men had been chosen for the work, which was being carried out effectively. The removal of the fruit at this stage of the season should assist the trees to yield good crops next vear.

£IO,OOO Loss

The loss to the pip and stone fruit is valued at about £IO,OOO, and this estimate does not include the labour lost by the men who usually undertake it. In addition, the lemon and orchard groves suffered severely, and the damage there is greater than at first estimated. The full extent of the loss will not be known for some time yet, for hail-marked fruit is still falling off, but it is believed that from 60 to 70 per cent of the lemon crops have been lost in the badly-affectod areas-