THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 November 1916, Page 1

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

WHAT AUSTRALIAN GROWERS AORE THINiKIING. : SOME PROBLEMS TO BUS SOLVED.

The following- from last week's Sydney Daily Telegraph will be read with interest by fruitgrowers:— 'Hie arrival this week of a large consignment of fruit from the United States is a reminder that our fruit, marketing season will shortjy commence. , An inspection of the fruit serves to show' to what standard the co-operative fruit packing houses of the .United States have attained. The industry here cannot be fairly compared 1 with that of 'the other side, as the conditions of vrowth have been along somewhat dissimilar lines. We can, however,- profit from-' the "excellent achievements in packing oversea competitor. EacifaSse is well packed, the 'fruit has been thoroughly wrapped, and: the grading is without fault.- Branding of the cases has not been neglected'; each case has imprinted upon it in > a clear manner its contents. Such a system has been made possible through competition, and the demand for a standard article. v . ~_jAT NEW SOUTH) •WALES 1 IS The lesson is well worthy of consideration. We are endeavouring to build up a solid fruit business with temperate climate fruits. An extension- of the industry along these line's has occurred at Batlow. (Bathurst, Goulburn, Orange, Oapertee, and Uralla. Up>to the present the crops harvested have not visibly affected- the markets.' The competition of Tasmania and Victoria has made xtselt felt, so that we' are only beginning to/be . recognised. The Tasmanian grower has ior years held; the apple market of toyttney. (Particularly have the growers "on the Derwent and Huon scored. Witti - the'advent.of the Tamar fruit has come the supervisor. Last season the growers in northern Tasmania empolyed a repreSXve to"visit "Sydney, carefully, study the markets, and suggest means , ov which the 'trad* could -be'captured., . Such enterprise should P°«H?"*£* *WI greater effort on the part of thes.iocal Sower. -We have some growers who are, Sed with the ■*a& n l;s t to-date methods in marketing. The gi>at maiority, however, still sail along in the Sd wav. In his/report, the Tasmania ?epresStative stated That w as well spoken of," especially so because of its good carrying qu*MM». » s furtner pointed out that the.. inland, Queensland, and Island trade could be captured on this account. _ " PACKING AN© GRATMNG. 1 Such' a statement ' tLx fin* big W>««l!"2i?S.' C *2-*S^? irti Iff was successfully marketed in, Sis year, Goulbuin fruit met a leaoy I and further Orange and Batlow *&£** Simy Smith*) Save teen eelkng &w----18s iror bushel case. ' Another valuable .pSnTbrSugbt out to the Tasmania' was -the value of cool K procurable in Sydney. Jt was foS that when the supplied the, fruit could be **paQ«a. St t* 4he cool room stacked in the hot markets. Such « , ,perienoe as invaluable and shouldu give -tihe lead .to our ©rowere. ' Naturally enough, the value of ffIPJ vision brought forward. JTihe idea emanated from! the -resuMa achieved by Queensland growers, who have had a representative mi SjaJney to supervise all matters in connection! watn. the marketing of their fruit. Th* districts harvesting large apple and owar. crops might, entertain! -the idea of in. • troducuig such a system. ■presenit the pnee for ffood fruit has been, satisfactory. There have been, .however,, .many complaints .brought- forward an a, .genual way against, the marketing, system. Instances of d watufeciaon wUh agents have .generally resulted an changes, which with small quantities or fruit may not matter, .but when thousands of cases are 'harvested from individual orchards, such moving round will 'bo -. disastrous. ! THERE MUST BE NECESSITY.

With the co-operativo system under test, no grea|t advantage has been- noticed. Growers have complained againsti many h-regularities. Mr H. Powell, the. great world authority on co-operative - fruit-marketing, distinctly points out that co-operation in fruit marketing is only successful -when brought a'bout by necessity. Our failures are at once recognised. Growers are securing good prices, and, naturally, the individual marketing system .still goes merrily along. Seeing that there is no likelihood; of a general acceptance of co-operation, the employment of, a- supervisor is , cert. tainly worthy of adoption. ~ With , the. slightest consideration, it is evident good results could be achieved. We have, on . all sides evidence that our, chief competitors are out to capture the trade.. Now is the time to get together and discuss the best means of securing and maintaining the .best customers on our markets, ■ Uniform packing and grading will _ go' a low? way. There is more than this required. The supervision of distribution is necessary to complete the link in the successful "marketing system. , Finally; labour, materials, and, in• fact, all financial matters in connection will be heavier than for years past. Prices must 'be such to compensate for the increased costs. No laxity in our marketing efforts will be permissible if returns are . to show a profit commensurate with the outlay and work and worry.