PASSION FRUIT SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 5

PASSION FRUIT SEASON

ALDERTON SETTLEMENT LARGE CROP HARVESTED The harvesting of the passion fruit crop on the Alderton group settlement, Kerikeri, which was bought by Pashion Products, Limited, will be completed early this week, when the factory which lias converted the fruit into juice for export will cease operations for the season.

This season there was a, cood crop of fine quality fruit.. The growers were paid per lb. cash at the gate, and as they had to pick the ripe fruit off the ground, and not off the vines, and discard any shrivelled fruit, the factory secured all fresh, ripe fruit. By picking up his fallen fruit every day or second day, the grower had very little shrivelled fruit. The largest supplier sent in 10 tons of fruit from 700 vines, and others about' six or seven tons from 400 vines.

In addition, growers will have citrus fruit for sale this season. This year is the first any large crop of citrus has come to maturity, and as about 20.,000 orange, lemon and grapefruit trees were planted on the settlement, the" crop should supplement the growprs' incomes. The trees on those plantations which have been well cultivated are showing a, cood setting of fruit, and will yield good results. An early variety of orange, with an excellent flavour, .is already producing ripe, fruit at the Homestead plantation.