PASSION FRUIT PULP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23036, 13 May 1938, Page 16

PASSION FRUIT PULP

' INDUSTRY NOW DEFUNCT LABOUR COSTS TOO HIGH BY JOHN PEEL Visitors to the citrus area at Kcrikeri frequently express surprise that passion fruit growing, which was so prominent several years ago, seems now to be practically defunct. Excepting for a few fruit grown for the fresh fruit market, citrus growers at Kcrikeri are leaving passion fruit alone. Even the pulping plant, which was one of the most up-to-date of its type, has been removed and sold. The .reason for the demise of tlio passion fruit industry is not difficult to appreciate, ns Captain K. \V. Voelcker president of the Kerikeri Citrus Growers' Association, related it to 1110 during a recent visit. At the outset, of the venture, it was obvious that the New Zealand market for passion fruit was far too small to consume all the fruit tliat the Kerikeri growers would be able to produce. When the association cast about for an overseas outlet, it discovered a very satisfactory one in the English juice market. Nevertheless there were serious difficulties to bo overcome. As Captain Voelcker pointed out, passion fruit is, for a great many people, an acquired taste, and it is, in London, up against the competition of lemon iuiee which is obtained cheaply from Italy and Franco, as well as the familiar English beverage, lemon and barley water. However, it was discovered that passion juice was unrivalled for cocktail making, and eventually an extensive and satisfactory market was established, not for passion fruit, but for passion fruit juice, with London buyers.

The pulping plant was then set up. The growers at Kerikeri were paid ljd per dozen for fruit, and 40 dozen fruit were required to produce each gallon of juice. That accounted for 5s a gallon. Glass jars to contain the juice in gallon lots cost 2s 3d each, and the approximate cost of packing and preparing the product was 2s Od per gallon. Therefore, the price required for the juice was not less than 10s per gallon. This allowed ljd per dozen I'ruit, for the growers at that time, which was satisfactory for them, and the price of 10s per gallon was satisfactory to the London buyers.

The industry was just established when new legislation raised the cost of production to such an extent that the lid per dozen did not pay the growers. The Home company, on hearing that an increase in price was necessary, shifted its order to Kenya, where labour, of course, is very cheap. Eventually the Kerikeri Association sold its plant to the Kenya groweri.