THE APPLE INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 7

THE APPLE INDUSTRY.

MARKETING IN BRITAIN.

ECONOMIC COMMITTEE'S REPORT

[from our own correspondent.] IjONDON, June 15. In the comprehensive report on the marketing of fruit that has been issued by the Imperial Economic Committee, a special section is devoted to apples. In the year 1924 the Home producer supplied about a quarter of the total apple requirements of the United Kingdom. Of the imported supplies the United States next, 3,649,689cwt. (38 per cent.). Ihe total from foreign sources was 4,612,617cwt. (48 per cent.). Out of the total supply of 9,612,616cwt., Canada sent 1.822,698cwt. (18.9 per cent.), Australia, 701,899cwt. (7.3 per cent.), and New Zealand, 8,369cwt. (0.9 per cent.) . An annual consumption per head of 231b. represents on an average of four or five apples to the lb., a consumption of from 92 to 115, or approximately 100 apples a head each year. This it ft true provides for those who are too young to consume raw apples, but even so much has still to be done to secure the " apple-a-day " habit, notwithstanding the fact that the above figures do not include noncommercial home production in gardens and small orchards. Further, these 100 apples a year include all the apples used in cooking, jam making, and for preserves and jellies, where the vitamin qualities are definitely depreciated if not altogether destroyed, so that the number of apples consumed by the individual member of the population in their most beneficial condition (i.e. raw), must be much smaller than the figure mentioned. In the case of tho Empire-grown fruit there has been a very substantial growth in the consumption of apples from the Southern Dominions since the war. Whereas, in the quinquennium ending 1904, 3.4 per cent, of the total importation came from Australia and New Zealand, in 1923 10.7 per cent., and in 1924 8.2 per cent, were obtained from these Dominions —a very strik-ng increase. Supplies from these Dominioiis reach the United Kingdom market in the spring and early summer when Northern Hemisphere apples, except for those kept in cold storage, are practically over. This means that the increased consumption per head of the population must have been particularly marked during the summer months. The committee refer to the fact that various Dominions produce a large quantity of uncommercial varieties. In 1924, South Australia alone shipped no fewer than 56 separate varieties, and New Zealand nearly 50 distinct varieties to the United Kingdom market. It is added that " the continued production and sale of such varieties undoubtedly results in very considerable annual loss, and we recommend that producers should take steps to ascertain the most suitable varieties for staple production, to the number of perhaps not more than 10 or 15, and concentrate on growing these, at the same time taking energetic pleasures to eliminate unsuitable sorts."

It is further pointed out that sizes 150 to 175, or to 2|in. in diameter, command the highest prices on the United Kingdom market, and that larger sizes are proportionately penalised in the prices paid. "At the same time we are given to understand that some Empire home markets actually prefer and 'pay the best prices for such sizes. . Very small sizes are also undesirable and return unsatisfactory values. We recommend, therefore, that a systematic study be made of market requirements in this respect, and that undesirable spes be held back for home consumption."

bananas in fiji. EXPORT TO AUSTRALIA. [from our own correspondent,] SUVA, July 17. Fiji is determined to hold on to the Australian market for its bananas. For some 18 months prior to Christmas last no bananas went from here to any part of Australia. But the Government encouraged a firm to ship fruit from the islands of Kandavu and Gnau, which have never had any disease in their fruit. In bringing the fruit 'to Suva, where all fruit had to be examined, the bananas were shipped to Australia m the bunch so that in spits of a.l care some of the "hands" were l-mised. These bruises did not show ui.lil the fruit was packed and shipped. The result was that when it arrived in Sydney the bruises had turned black, although the fruit was quite sound. This blemish naturally affected the prices, and the shippers did not realise a payable price. To encourage the firm to continue to ship the Department of Agriculture sent inspectors to Kandavu to investigate the conditions. The fruit was then shipped in "hands" instead of in bunches, in New Zealand cases, and carefully graded and packed in Suva. At once the fruit realised increased prices, and now the experiment has been placed upon a paying basis.

THE MEAT MARKET. PRICES AT SMITHFIELD. The New Zealand Meat Produces V Board has received the following cable from its London office, dated July 23. advising Smithfield delivered prices at that date as. follow : New Zealand Wethers and Maidens. — Canterbury quality; selected brands, 561b. and under, 6fd per lb.; 571b. to 641b., 6£d; 651b. to 721b., 5-}; d. Other brands: 561b. and under, 6|d; 571b. to 641b., s|d; 651b. to 721b., sd. New Zealand Ewes. —641b. and under, 4-§d. New Zealand Lambs. Canterbury quality: 361b and under, 9d; 371b. to 421b., B§d; 4311 d. to 501b., B£d; seconds, Selected brands: 361b. and under, B|d; 371b, to 421b., Other brands: First quality, 421b. and under, seconds. B£d. New Zealand Beef —Ox fores, 3£d; hinds, 5-|d. Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, 3|d; hinds, 6jd. Frozen Pork.-801b. to 1201b.. lid; 1201b. to 1801b., 10id. ' Lambs. —The market is weaker and consumption is not improving. Mutton.—There is a good demand for light-weight. The demand has fallen off slightly for heavy-weight. Ewes: The market is firm with fair demand.

THE PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY. . .DEVELOPMENT IN FIJI. [from our own correspondent.] SUYx\, July 19. Mr. G. Ellis is visiting Suva as representative of the Dominion C'anners, Ltd. Many local residents say that they see in the coming of Mr. Ellis the promise of a huge future, when Fiji will rival Hawaii as the chief pineapple producing country in the world. Mr. Ellis comes here under a year's agreement to fully test the possibilities of the Fiji fruit as a canning and commercial article. The machinery, which he will supervise the erection of, 13 almost all here, and he says he will be ready to can by October. He says that from all he has seen he believes the Fiji fruit will suit the Canadian market, where it can enter protected by a 30 per cent, duty, and it is said that the Government has already arranged for the freight to he the same as is paid by the Honolulu fruit to Vancouver. At the colony can supply ample sugar for all canning, the outlook is very hopeful, and while the establishment of such a huge industry will bring into cultivation double the land area now under cultivation, it will also provide an improved market for the sugar companies.