POOR APPLE SEASON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 10 September 1937, Page 8

POOR APPLE SEASON

SALES IN GREAT BRITAIN MARKET FULLY SULLIED Sllll'Mr-’i' MADE TO FRANCE LONDON, 18th August. The New Z('nl;iud applo selling season in Great Britain again has been disappointing. There are many reasons for Ibis, one being that there is nowadays a substantial supply of the fruit available every day all tile year round. This lias tended to satiate the public appetite, and demand lias slackened accordingly. “Our season lias not dosed on a very high tone,” said Mr 11. Turner, London manager of the New Zealand Fruit Board, when discussing the position this week. "In all the circumstances it is rather disappointing. Although the unexpected mid-season glut was experienced, prices recovered more quickly than usual, and, as supplies available for the balance of the season were rather below normal, we anticipated a fairly strong finish. This, howover, has not been realised. "After a temporary recovery to reasonably payable prices, thole followed a drop to a point which, although it was definitely better than last year, was hardly sufficient to give a profitable return lor tlio main late variety, Stunner. Late red varieties, such as Dougherty, Rokewood and Tasma, sold more favourably, but Granny Smith, among the greens, was tho only one to meet with any do-

maud. "Tim pc.'ir nmrket fins lucked strength throughout I,ho season. Tho iSeamliiiavi:in hade Inis been less than usual, owing In Dll' ilr.sl,lilt-lion of Die major purl of tho Poter Burry crop in Hawke,s Buy. These penis are always a favourite in Sweden. Averuge shipments linve been sent to the Continent and prices realised for them have compared satisfactorily with those paid in the United Kingdom. "For flic first tittle since 1932 a shipment of 27,000 cases of apples was sent to France. It. is hoped to extend this market, and if the negotiations for a trade agreement develop favourably, with Germany also.” “The one thing which lias contributed mosL importantly to the maintenance of prices for Australian and New Zealand applies lias been the iniroduefion of the voluntary quota by those two Dominions,’’ said a prominent broker. "If they bad shipped during the last two seasons without restriction, as they did in 1933, the fruit would probably have sold at disastrous prices, and the aggregati return to the growers would most likely have gecn less than that so-, cured for the fruit Shipped under rho existing quota. "While apple prices could not be looked upon as satisfactory, they nevertheless were maintained on a level which would never have been possible with unrestricted shipping. Fortunately, both Australia and New Zealand have the market to themselves for apples during a fair part of their season, and while they have to meet the competition of increasing quantities of oranges and soft fruits, as well as fancy fruits, there will also remain a certain demand for apples in this country which should tend to maintain prices for reasonable quantities in spite of the more intonsivo competition.”