EXPORT FRUIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 31 March 1932, Page 7

EXPORT FRUIT

CONGESTION AT WELLINGTON CONTROL BOARD WITHHOLDING CONSIGNMENTS RESUMPTION EXPECTED IN TEN DAYS Advice was received by Mr. A. L. Baumgart, Hawke’s Bay representative of the Export Fruit Control Board, that, owing to congestion at Wellington, the Board had stopped the consignment of certain varieties of apples until after April 10, and growers in this district have been advised to suspend picking operations for ten days. The Control Board, it appears, was faced with an accumulation of midseason fruit occasioned by the early maturing of all varieties in every district. Then again greater quantities had been received from all areas, and there was no extra accommodation available for immediate shipping. To relieve the congestion and to enable the Board to ship the fruit in sequence of variety, it has been found necessary to hold back the late, and better keeping varieties, until April 10. The apples affected are Stunner, Statesman and Rome Beauty. Mr. N. J. Adamson, senior orchard inspector of the Department of Agriculture, informed a “Tribune” reporter this morning that consignments of Sturmers were actually coming to hand, and a number of cases had been forwarded for shipment. That fruit which had been packed would go forward, but from to-day there would be a cessation of the supply. A number of the growers, no doubt, would probably feel compelled to go on picking, added Mr. Adamson. They would desire to relieve the trees and to avoid loss of fruit through dropping. He intimated that should fruit be picked earlier than April 10 it would not deteriorate, as the nights now were very cool. Fruit picked pending the resumption of packing should bo stacked in the shade, if accommodation is not available in the packing sheds. The holding back of the Sturmers should not affect a great many growers in this district, as a large proportion of the crop goes into eool store. Where early pisking is imperative the grower will be able to concentrate on the cool store fruit. The delay will not mean a loss to growers, as consignments sent forward for export would only be held in ordinary storage at Wellington and might possibly have deteriorated to a greater extent than it would have done if stacked at the orchard. The assembly shed is still a scene of activity. Most of the growers are busy with the last picking of Delicious apples and Winter Nelis and P. Barry pears. The withholding of Stunner, Statesman and Rome Beauty apples would mean that next week at the assembly shed will be quiet, but the following week the handlings may establish a record. To date over 155,000 cases of fruit have been despatched from Hastings. This is considerably more than for the corresponding period last season. There has been a marked increase in the quantities of all varieties. The bookings for the present season amount to 285,000, and Mr. Adamson is confident that the amount will be forthcoming by the end of the exporting period.