FRUIT EXPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1937, Page 6

FRUIT EXPORT

SHIPMENTS FROM OTAGO.

(Per Press Association. —Copyright).

DUNEDIN, April 7

The fruit export season in Otago is expected to be fairly successful from the point of view of quality and quantity. Production will be heavier this year than was the case last season, but fruit growers appear to be very sceptical as to the financial outcome of the year’s operations. Never before lias such a proportion of the revenue been swallowed up by costs, a<nd growers have had the additional problem of trying to secure adequate labour for the most urgent work ol harvesting, grading and packing the crop. The quality, on the whole, is good in the apple crop, and many varieties arc verv highly coloured in spite of the abnormal amount of wet weather. Conditions during the lost fortnight have shown a marked improvement. The Otago export season began on March 10, with a, shipment of 200 eases of pears by the llangitiki. This was followed by 0000 cases of apples, consigned on the Arawa on March 10. and six days later the Wairangi took 23,278 cases of apples, and 1771 cases of pears. The Port Gisborne, which is at present loading fruit at Port Charlmers, will take 21,383 cases of apples, and 3617 cases of pears. The Hertford, which is expected to load at Port Chalmers on April IG, has space for 25,000 cases, and the Hororata will take a further 31,00 cases on April 21.