APPLE EXPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 20

APPLE EXPORTS

A MARKED DECLINE DROP OF 16,000 CASES DELICIOUS CROP A FAILURE LOCAL MARKET SUPPLIES A decrease of over 16.000 cases in comparison with the previous year, has been recorded in the -17,081 cases of apples exported from the Auckland district in the season which concluded on May 26. Principally contributing to the position was the failure of the Delicious variety, which is generally regarded as the province's staple crop, the output for overseas in this section dropping from 31,107 cases in 193S to 4777 cases this season.

Fruit for export came from 98 growers in the district, the consignments representing 22 varieties of apples and 10 species of pears, ol which 5533 cases were despatched. Losses and damage caused by seasonal conditions were responsible for the largo reduction in the quantity of Delicious passed for export, less than 15 per cent of the expected crop being suitable for shipment.

Popularity of Dougherty With Delicious a failure, Dougherty will be New Zealand's principal apple on tho United Kingdom market this year. In comparison with 11..'310 cases last season, 1t.385 cases were passed for export between January and May this year, and, in view of the popularity of this crisp-textured apple in Britain, they are expected to meet a ready demand. However, a fair quantity of the growers' consignment* were over-size and these have been retained for the local market. Details of the Output

The following list of case export, quantities of the various varieties was supplied yesterday by Mr. A. 1. Douglas. orchard instructor of the Department of Agriculture, at Auckland, last season's figures being given in parentheses: —Alfriston, 73 (-11); Cleopatra, 54 ( —); Brighton, 422 (495); Cox's Orange Pippin, 340 (1190); Golden Delicious, 106 (12S); Pioneer, 65 (''s9); Frimley Beauty, 21 ( —); Kidd's Orange, 394 (296); London Pippin. 43 (60); Parlin's Beauty, 656 (263); Home Beauty, 423 (15< >; Statesman. 1605 (.1320); Sturmcr, 19S (111); Willie Sharp, 725 (511); Yates, 919 (50S); Ballarat, 6075 (.'iSO-'V); Delicious, 4777 (31,-107); Dunn's, 7057 (2116); Dougherty, 14.385 (11,310); Gravenstein, 913 (689); Jonathan. 1071 (1231); Granny Smith, 6722 (7119).

More Stabilised Conditions These figures, however, give no indication of the quantity of fruit of export quality that was produced. A larger proportion of the output than usual has this year been held for the local market on account of the more stabilised conditions governing domestic supply and to meet the shortage of fruit in the Dominion. There is stated to hare been no appreciable change in the number of trees in tho orchards of the district.