APPLE EXPORTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 62, 28 February 1929, Page 6

APPLE EXPORTS

GISBORNE’S 15,000 CASES FIRST SHIPMENT DESPATCHED CANTERBURY ANTICIPATES RECORD SEASON Apparently Poverty Bay orchardists i expect the present season to yield much better results than was at first expected. Early in the seoson it was thought that it would not. be possible to export more than 12,000 cases, but it has been since ascertained that shipping space has been applied for 15,000 cases from this district. The first of the apples have been already got away, 284 cases shipped to Wellington on Friday representing the first of the export lines from, this port this year. This consignment, which is intended for London, comprised mostly Cox’s Orange, with a small amount of Brownlee’s Russet. The next ocersens line to be despatched will go forward next Friday, but the quantity it is expected to ship is not yet available. This lot is intended for Rotterdam, and will be included among a shipment for which arrangements have been made for sale at 15/- per case, c.i.f., Rotterdam. This price is expected to return the (jrehardists an equivalent of 10/4 per ease f.o.b. Wellington. Some of the apples this season are of a particularly fine quality, and there does not appear to be- such a large quanuty of over-sized fruit in evidence this season as is often the case in Poverty Bay. On the other hand, however, russeting on much of the fruit is making much of that which might have been available for export unsightly, and is, therefore, reducing the quantities that will be available for sending overseas. This complaint appears to be general among most varieties, and is more pronounced than in past, seasons. The best of the apples this season appear to be the Delicious and Dougherty varieties, while among the Ballarats there is also some very fair fruit.— “Poverty Bay Herald.” CANTERBURY SHIPMENTS Judging by the amount of space that has been booked on overseas steamers, lhe present fruit export season is likely to go down in history as a record one for Canterbury (says an exchange). Already space has been arranged for 8000 cares by Canterbury growers, and in all probability this will be exceeded as the season advances. This year is the first occasion on which the growers have packed their own fruit for export, and naturally they are a little bit cautious in arranging their space until they see how they get ou. Consequently, the figures already available may be regarded as a little on the conservative side. Previously the g‘ vers have had their packing done I. . them. The present season., so far as it has gone has undoubtedly been a favourable one for commercial orchards. There has been a surprisingly small prevalence of diseases such as black spot and red mite, and in addition the absence of high nor’-westers, the banc of the orchardist during January and February, has been reflected in the much higher.general yield.