FRUIT EXPORT SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 10

FRUIT EXPORT SEASON

LAST AUCKLAND SHIPMENT —J HIGHER TOTAL THIS YEAR EARLY PRICES SATISFACTORY The last shipment of fruit for export from Auckland this season is at present being prepared for despatch by the Port I-lobart next week. An allotment of approximately 9000 cases lias been booked, and this will bring Auckland's total export of fruit during the season to nearly 125,000 cases, compared with 121,086 cases last year, 181,000" cases in 1932, and 116,000 cases in 1931. Of this year's exports, nearly 5000 cases were of pears, and the rest of apples. Although only a few shipments have so far reached the English market, prices realised to date indicate that the return will be generally satisfactory to the grower. Freight, packing, and selling costs average about 6s to 7s a case, and prices realised so far have ranged from 8s to 16s a case in London, and exchange has to be added to those prices.

Tho Mataroa carried tho first consignment from Auckland, leaving on February 7, with 1169 cases of apples for London. Later shipments, their date of despatch and destination, were as follows: —Tuscan Star, 10,455 cases apples, March 13, for London; Doric Star, 13,032 cases apples, 3194 cases pears, March 29, for London; Coptic, 9694 cases .apples, April 4, for Glasgow; Sultan Star, 15,146 cases apples, 1520 cases pears, April 12, for London; Cumberland, 5589 cases apples for Liverpool, 4461 cases apples for Avonmouth, April 12; .Karamea, 11,909 cases apples, April 15, for Hamburg; Waimana, 9277 cases apples, for Rio de Janeiro, 2120 cases apples for Montevideo, April 14; Hertford, 6263 cases apples, May 10, for Montreal; Pangitata, 21,338 cases apples, 208 cases, pears, May 11, for London.

Although shipments have been heavy, cool stores throughout the Dominion arc reported to bo well stocked for later local requirements, while a large amount of fruit is still in the orchards for consignment to tho immediate market. Most of the picking in Auckland has now been completed, and tho bulk of the remaining fruit may bo expected 011 the market very shortly. So far, local prices have been poor, but it is stated that the best of tho fruit has been going abroad, and, with the close of the export season, a better standard of apple will probably come forward in larger quantities. Crops have been good throughout tho Dominion, with the exception of Ota<;o, where heavy frosts almost ruined production for the season. Generally speaking, tho fruit has been clean this year, although tho fear of mouldy core in Delicious has probably been the cause of a diminution in the quantities of this apple shipped for export.

RECORD FOR HAWKE'S BAY

OVER 300,000 CASES SENT

[by TELEGRAPH —Pit ESS association] HASTINGS, Thursday

The final figures for the Hawke's Bay fruit export season, which closed yesterday, show that a total of 313,996 cases were despatched from Hastings. This total is a record for the district. The final figures actually slightly exceeded the estimate of 310,000 cases, yesterday's handling setting a record for a final day with railing approximately 6500 cases, this being equal to the mid-season daily handling. The export totals over the 1926-1934 period are as follows: —1926, 100,326 cases; 1927, 64,716; 1928, 194,835; 1929, 141,155; 1930, 247,772; 1931, 213,340; 1932, 299,117; 1933, 296,000; 1934, 313,996.