EXPORT APPLE TRADE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 July 1925, Page 3

EXPORT APPLE TRADE

AUSTRALIAN COMMENT

Apple growers could desire no- better indication of the stability of the business in which they are engaged than that provided by the sales of fruit in London during the past season, remarks the Australasian. It is apparent that, the trade is fast returning to- its pre-war basis, and also that there is a -steady increase in the demand for this fruit. This latter may he attributable partly to the advertising campaign that has been undertaken by the fruit trades organisation in London, and also to the publicity given our fruit at the Wembley Exhibition. Another feature of the trade which signifies the soundness of the posilion is the high price that has been paid by exporters for -fruit on the orchard or delivered at the local railway stations this -season. Further satisfaction is to be found in the fact that, prices have been remunerative, and that there is consequently the inducement for speculators to compete for fruit for exportin future years. If the many indications of increasing stability arc investigated it will also be found that the growers, by devoting more care to the packing and grading of their fruit ami the improvements that have taken place in the carriage of the fruit during transit are all operating to* the advantage of those engaged in the industry. This season Victorian growers’ shipped away nearly 100,000 cases more fruit than in any previous- season. Despite this, the prices have been better than for very many years. In Hie circumstances it is not. unreasonable lo anticipate that shipments may be further increased without the risk of the consignments proving unsatisfactory, provided growers realise that the continuity of the trade is dependent upon their properly selecting and evenly grading their produce. It sometimes happens that after a satisfactory season more growers are anxious to participate in the benefits that apparently await theme and they relax somewhat in the supervision of the fruit sent from their orchards, Later when it is possible to make a complete review of the season’s trade it will probably he found that many other markets are capable of considerable development. __