FRUIT INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 14

FRUIT INDUSTRY

EXPANSION PROSPECTS CONDITIONS IN PROVINCE VARIETIES OF APPLES MARKETING DIFFICULTIES No. 11. Prospects for the immediate expansion of the apple induf.try from its comparatively humble ss.inding in the primary production of the Auckland Province do not appear encouraging. Climatic conditions are fii/vourable, the gumlands of the north and' certain areas of the Waikato have proved their potentialities as fruit-growing areas, and the quality of the produce has earned expert commendation. But the extent of future activity centres in the marketing issue. In both, the local and the export trade uncertainty as to sales and returns has clouded the optimism that favourable natural conditions would normally engender. At one time despised for any agricultural pursuit, the gumlands of the province have proved themselves an admirable location for fruit-growing. The uncertainty of the northern climate certainly presents difficulties, but it ig considered that the best orchards in the Auckland district are equal to any in other parts of the Dominion. However, it has been found that growers at such a centre as Te Kauwhata are working about 16 acres, where, in Hawke's Bay, the same and better results are obtained from properties six to eight acres in extent. Natural Conditions Suitable These comparisons, hou-evor, should not serve to found any belief that fruitgrowing in the Auckland districts is ; unsound. On the contrary, areas in the province have proved eminently satisfactory, and experienced orcharaists are unanimous in their belief that such districts as Huapai, Port Albert and Te Kauwhata are, while in their natural state inferior to Hawke's Bay, thoroughly suitable for : apple-growing. Admittedly there are certain adverse effects. Larger orchards mean highercosts of production, and a more humid climate necessitates the exercise of added precautions to protect trees and fruit from disease. Under such conditions a heavy intial capital outlay is , regarded as essential and to maintain productive capacity annual costs probably exceed the layman's conception of * normal maintenance. Under existing marketing conditions which have brought about highly irrational distribution at prices barely economic to the average grower, organised expansion of the industry does not win favour. Since 1931 the number of orchards in the Dominion has remained almost stationary and, with fruit-gfow-ing enterprise essentially a long-term investment showing little return on the first few years' operations, the unsatisfactory and irregular returns have appeared discouraging to orchardists. Delicious Less Popular The last several years have, in the opinion of main* growers, seen little progress. False economy has frequently brought about neglect and planting activities have been curtailed. Delicious, Dunns, Granny Smith and Dougherty are among the most popular varieties of apples being grown successfully in the Auckland district. The liability of Delicious to mouldy core has brought about some decline in plantings and therp has also been a tendency to supplement Dunns with Ballarats, which are stated to have grown well in northern orchards. The reputation gained by Granny Smith has been maintained by the success of recent plantings and this variety, together with Golden Delicious, are strains likely to be used extensively in the future. In no small measure due to the reduction of orchards in the Port Albert district, Dougherty have shown a decline. Prices and Costs To suggest that over-production is the cause of the difficult marketing situation would be fallacious and contrary to a mass of statistical data...lt would appear an anomaly that too small a proportion of the money paid for New Zealand fruit goes to the producer, whose returns show little or no margin to meet the considerable costs incurred in production. Orchardists point out that it is only the guaranteed price paid to growers by the Government that sustains export activity. Difficulties may lie in the way of increasing the quotas of fruit despatched to overseas countries but there - is undeniable evidence that the Dominion itself, particularly in the country districts, is starving for apples, and, if fruit can be supplied under an orderly scheme of distribution and at cheaper prices than those which now rule in the retail trade, a marked increase in consumption should furnish the opportunity for progressive development. Difficulties Not Peculiar However, almost every fruit-growing country has experienced the same difficulties that confront New Zealand producers at present. There have been some that have not taken remedial steps but in others the necessity, for organisation has been realised ana success has been achieved by eliminating low-grade fruit from the markets, so removing thnfc depressing influence on prices, and by introducing a schema of orderly marketing. This would opon up the best markets for fruit in particular areas and avert the possibility of periods of gluts and famines in supply. The consensus of opinion anion? growers is that reform must take place in New Zealand along these lines and that, when stabilised marketing established, the door is open for the development of the industry into one of major status in the primary production of the province.