GRADING LEMONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 11

GRADING LEMONS

NEW STANDARD FIXED response to growers BETTER RESULTS ASSURED tauranga arrangements r JIY TKMvGRAPH— OWN COUUESrONDKST j TAURANGA, Sunday In response to an appeal to Mr. If. Picot, director of the internal markcting division, by citrus growers a more satisfactory standard lemons has been arranged at the a vallK a curing shed, which was taken over bv the Internal Marketing Department on May 1. A meeting in Auckland was attended by offices of the Department of Agriculture and the internal Marketing Department and by mambers of the Citrus Advisory Committee. Also present were Government fruit inspectors and the managers o the packing sheds at Tauranga, i upland and Kerikeri. Mr. Picot preside!. Mr T Hunt explained that, while responsible orchardists had long wanted the really rough and diseased lemon eliminated from tlio market, the high standard being set was quite unobtainable and meant total ruin of the entire industry if persisted m. Grading Too Harsh Numerous samples of fruit were examined, both lemons that had been accepted and a considerable quantity that had been rejected. The various degrees of blemish were fully discussed. Several lines were regraded under the supervision of officers of the Department of Agriculture, and it was proved that the grading had been too harsh. Mr. Picot and Mr. A. H. Honeyfield said they were anxious to find ways to prevent trouble in the future and to in some degree compensate those growers who had been unfairly penalised. I lie meeting was therefore adjourned to Tauranga. . After a careful scrutiny of fruit in the Tauranga shed, the Government officers met a representative body of local growers. Fruit was regraded and a standard fixed which the growers present agreed would be satisfactory if adhered to. Samples of rejected fruit were inspected and the meeting agreed that, while some of it was quite (suitable for marketing, much of it should never have left the orchards. Work in the Orchards It will he necessary for growers to exercise care that fruit is picked at its proper size and state of maturity as may from time to time be required by "the department. Growers who have been in the habit of giving a minimum of attention to their groves and have made a practice of sending poor quality fruit in to the packing shed for treatment are faced with the work of bringing their properties up to the standard of others. It is considered essential that standardisation of grades be enforced The grading system adopted is an entire alteration of previous methods. All fruit is graded upon receipt from the orchards, and this brings an earlier payment to the producer.