FRUIT STORAGE IN LONDON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 August 1933, Page 6

FRUIT STORAGE IN LONDON

BOARD’S LARGE TOTAL 222,000 CASES

CHAIRMAN REVIEWS SEASON

At the present moment the Fruit Export Control Board holds 222,000 eases of this seasons apples in cool storage in London for disposal, or Kit per cent, of tlie Dominion's export total. In addition, according to advice received 91,000 cases from Otago are in London cool stores, this province marketing on its own account. In stating these facts at the annual conference tlie chairman ol the i'ruit Board, (according to the “Press”), said it was very doubtful whether London prices could be maintained at their earlier level for the rest of tlie season.

Mr Stephens said the season opened with fairly siitislactoi v prices, and taking’ into consideration the condition in which most of the fruit was arriving in England, the exporters were fortunate to secure the prices fhoy did. A few Canterbury price lists hud arrived and it would be agreed that they “could have been lower.” Some would even lie adjudged good. However, halfway tlirogh tiie season prices fell away ' noticeably. Australia again dumped very large quantities ol apples on the London market, and, with the restricted buying power at Home juices slumped heavily. The board's brokers had undoubtedly done a great deal to sustain prices for Dominion exports, but il remained to be seen whether their ell'orts would continue to he successful. In face of the low prices ruling, it seemed very doubtful whether anything could he done to keep up prices. Account sales for New Zealand and Australian fruit sold in London on nth July had just been received and provided an interesting comparison. The bulk of the New Zealand fruit sold on that date at 9s (id or 10s a case This was certainly not a high return, but the Australian fruit brought far less. The highest prices ranged between os (id and os !)d. Considerable quantities went for 2s .'id to 2s (id, aijd the great bulk sold for from .'is to as. It was thus possible to see what a task faced the New Zealand brokers in trying to maintain prices. At tbe present time about 222,000 cases of New Zealand fruit were in cool storage in London, and according to advice received that morning another 91,000 cases of Otago fruit was in store. London reports said that the prospects were unfavourable for the rest of the season. English apples were now going on to tlie market and it would be very difficult to dispjse of the remainder of New Zealand’s fruit at anything’like profitable prices. In addition there would lie losses through wastage and cool store charges. The condition of fruit exported had caused the hoard much concern. Nelson fruit kept very badly both this season and last, climatic conditions having a great deal to do with this. However, lie believed another reason was the use by growers of nitrogenous manures not properly balanced with other manures. Definite results had been secured by growers from the use of ndiogcißiis mamires, and they bad been tempted to use them to the exclusion of others. Good crops had cortaiiiiy been secured, hut fruit had not been produced with the “keeping texture” required. Growers should be induced. , o consider this quest-oil seriously.

The use of the “all-round wrap,” lib considered, had also been a iactor m producing wastage. This wrap, it was thought, prevented free ventilation in eases, and also lengthened the time it took for the cold to be taken from the apples. Kefrigerating machinery was somewhat inadequate on some boats, and as the all-round wrap was a poor conductor of beat, it meant that apples continued to ripen in the ships’ holds longer than they should. There were, of course, definite advantages in the use of these wraps, lor they prevented, apples being cut and also minimised bruising. Tims, until the board was satisfied it could produce a better system, the all-round wrap would be used. It would be employed during-jilio coming season, but extensive experiments would be made with other forms of wrap. Discussing market conditions during the season, Mr Stephens said the board bad been sending fruit to the Continent. One shipment went to Germany, where the market was fairly good at the time. 7s lid net a case being realised. This was just enough to give growers a profitable return. However, the price would have been even better had the fruit sent been in better condition.

A shipment was also packed for France, but before it readied that country the French Government banned .importations. The shipment was diverted to Holland, and realised good prices with two other shipments, one of which realised 9s a case, and the other !)s (id e.i.f. It liiu! been hoped to put 00,000 eases into Canada, but no more than about 20,000 were sent. Buyable returns were realised, the conditions and texture of the fruit being praised. It was Imped to increase exports to Canada next- season. However, American fruit was highly-coloured, and New Zealand “extra fancy” was only classed as “fancy” there

'The position regarding South America was dillicult, for about £12,000 was still in the Aregntino to the credit of the Fruit Board, which was unable to secure the money •'owing to Government restrictions. However, 70,000 cases were sent to South America altogether, about 20,000 going to the Argentine. it was still dillicult to say bow the board was going to get its" money. It bad been Imped that something would lie done under the recent trade treaty between Great Britain and the Argentine. However, New Zealand could not be brought under the treaty, and the only alternative was to buy Argentine produce for disposal overseas, and so realise the amount owing. Even then there were complications, for the money realised oil sales of Argentine produce laid to be returned to that counliy, where permission had to be secured from the Exchange Board for its release. It bad been promised that this permission would he granted, and it was Imped that a solution would be found. A representative of the board bad gone to the Argentine to deal with tlie situation. A consignment had gone to Brazil, realising Ids !!d and 10s 9d e.i.f. in sterling. .Ml hough there was not much i-fyji'e of putting up,pics into the ■ 1 'inled Slates, I lie-re was a. possibility of • • t:-s'.v; pea'v there in greater quantities. The three-quarter pear ease was eon udevoil mos; suitable for export, and negotiations for uniform action were in progress with

South Africa. The use of the threequarter case would definitely do away with the half-case.

Mr Stephens declared that growers should discard any idea of exporting large-sized apples, which hsul not returned a profit to exporters during tlie last two seasons. Jt would be far better for growers to develop a local market for these apples. In Great Britain a large apple was smaller than the fruit described as large in. New Zealand. Buyers in England often refused to touch size 103, which,- was considered too large, and it appeared that nothing over 138’s would give a profitable return there. Scotland and the Continent were also now demanding smaller fruit, and it should be noted that the United States exported practically nothing except sizes between 103 and 210.