IF PROHIBITION COMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 10

IF PROHIBITION COMES.

-■' \ m — GRAPE GROWERS' PROBLEM. NEW INDUSTRY POSSIBLE. MANUFACTURE OF "RAISINS." In view of the possibility of prohibition coming into force in New Zealand, the following reference by a San Francisco correspondent to the future prospects of the wins-grape vineyards of California is of interest. The writer says : — It looks as though the expectations of those who hoped that some way would be discovered whereby the owners of winegrape vineyards in California would be saved from financial loss because of prohibition have been realised beyond all doubt. While plans for turning these grapes into various kinds of food products have been going forward for some time, it has been contended by some that these fields did not offer a sufficient market to absorb the 400,000-ton wine-grape crdp of the State. According to information given a representative of the Christian Science Monitor at the office of the State Market Commission, however, a process has been discovered and put in operation that, if it is taken advantage* of by the vineyardists, will enable the growers to market at a profitable price all the wine grapes that they can grow. In fact, the discovery practically amounts to the founding of a new industry, since it enables the grower to turn these grapes into a kind of raisin that has not been produced before. While this will be known as a second-grade raisin, it is of such a quality that, according to investigations carried on by the State Market Commission, it will find a ready and unlimited market, not only in this country, but in Europe and other parts of the world. The process is based upon a method of drying the grape by direct heat, and has been tried out in an extensive way by one of the largest vineyardists in the State. Large quantities of the new product are now finding a ready market in the eastern section of the United States. " It is possible," said an official of 'the State Market Commission, " that there will be two grades of the new product, one somewhat similar to the Zante currant and the other to a second-grade raisin. The process turns out a product that has far exceeded the expectations of the growers or the experts. " Under a plan that has been formulated by Harris Weinstock, State market director, it is expected that a dried-grape grqwers' co-operative marketing association will be formed at an early date. *It will be the purpose of this organisation to establish community driers at centrallylocated points in the wine-grape districts, where the vineyardists may bring their grapes for curing, and also to carry out«a comprehensive system of collective marketing of the product on a scale that would be impossible for the individual grower. Working through this organisation, the growers could not only ship their produtt in bull*»to markets throughout this country, but to European markets, where the demand is practically unlimited. * " Considered on this basis, it will be seen that the plan becomes a matter of the utmost importance to the vineyardist, since it becomes the solution of his problem which comes with Federal prohibition on January 16, 1920. I do not think that there is any question that this means that, if the growers wish t to wke advantage of this opportunity to market their grapes in this way, there need be no financial loss to them when prohibition goes into effect." ' —