EXPORT OF FRUIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 5

EXPORT OF FRUIT

THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS DROP OF 200,000 CASES TROUBLE WITH LARGE APPLES [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] NELSON, Wednesday Inability to find markets for apples exceeding 2-Jin. in diameter will have the effect ot drastically reducing the total export from the Tasman district for 1933. No sales of large sizes have been made for the Continent of Europe, and under the contract arranged with a firm in the United Kingdom not more than 15 per cent of any grower's shipment may exceed 2|in. in diameter. Sturmers, tho leading cooking variety, aro ( a light crop this season, and consequently larger than usual, and under existing conditions size 125 (2Jin.) and all larger sizes will bo retained in New Zealand. The effect will be to glut the local markets beyond hope of recovery for several months and to deprive purchasers in England of most of the more popular sizes in cooking apples. This will seriously curtail export, reduce growers' returns and prevent many from benefiting by tho present favourable exchange position. Representations wero made to the Fruit Control Board to reconsider the position, but tho board has decided that in view of adverse overseas reports regarding prospects for the sale of larger sizes the 15 per cent restriction must be enforced. Obstacles on Continent On the present estimate New Zealand will have an export of 1,400,000 cases, or 200,000 cases less than last year. This fruit will be mainly for the British market, but it is expected that outlets will bo found for 70,000 cases of apples in South America, 30,000 in Eastern Canada, and up to 100,000 on the Continent. About 20,000 cases of pears will go to Sweden, 80,000 to England, and 1000 to Canada. Economic conditions on the Continent are making it very difficult to market New Zealand fruit there. Had conditions been normal, in the opinion of the Fruit Control Board, fully 500,000 to 600,000 cases of New Zealand fruit would have been, sold on tho Continent this export season. South American Finance Tho Argentine alone in ordinary circumstances could take 160,000 cases, but great difficulty in the control of finance has made importing almost prohibitive and New Zealand has difficulty in disposing of 40,000 cases in the Argentine, and 30,000 in Brazil. Conditions for marketing New Zealand fruit in Continental countries are exceedingly difficult this year, duties, quotas and general depression restricting the purchasing power of the public. A bill was recently introduced in the French Legislature to raise the duty on fruit from the equivalent of 3s to lis a case. So far as tho Fruit Control Board is aware this bill has not yet been passed. Sweden has a duty of 4s a case on fruit, and Germany lias a quota. The prospects of doing a substantial trade with the Continent, and .to that extent relieving the pressure on the British market, are by no means reassuring.