BIG APPLE CROP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20507, 18 March 1941, Page 2

BIG APPLE CROP

UP ON LAST YEAR SEASON AT ITS HEIGHT HEAVY YIELD OF PEARS ABSENCE OF FI REBLIGHT This season’s apple crop in the Gisborne district is a heavy one, and the quantities available are greater than last season. With the absence of an export market this year, large quantities are available for the local trade, under the Internal Marketing Division’s scheme..

Last year’s apple crop, after allowing lor extensive hail damage, totalled 28,000 cases. This year's is expected to produce 32,000 cases, and, in addition, 3000 cases of pears, of which there is a very heavy crop on most trees.

An absence of fireblight in Gisborne orchards this season, following a light attack last year, left the trees in good bearing order, with the result that large supplies of excellent quality fruit are coming forward. Apples are being retailed at low prices for case lots, and the demand is reported to be satisfactory.

The orchard instructor for the district, Mr. J. D. Kennedy, stated to-day that the last of the Cox’s Orange Pippins were now coming off the trees, and Delicious were being picked. Under the Internal Marketing Division’s scheme supplies were being' brought into the district in order to relieve some of the congestion in other areas. Stone and Citrus Fruits Stone fruit is now practically finished. The season has been a lean one for peaches and plums,, and as a result little preserving and jammaking have been done by Gisborne housewives, compared with normal years. A shortage of lemons has occurred this season, while oranges are not in very large supply, although the size is better than last year, when trees suffered from hail damage. Shipments of the best class of orange, which compare well with the imported fruit, have been made to other districts. where a good demand has sprung up at prices that have been satisfactory to those responsible for their shipment. Grapefruit have been in good supply this season, the trees having borne well.

In view of the likelihood of a shortage of apple packers, owing to the drain on man-power as a result of war needs, packing classes have been conducted by Mr. Kennedy, and the pupils have progressed so well that many girls have been in the packing sheds in the district.