APPLE OUTPUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 6

APPLE OUTPUT

[HEAVIER SUPPLIES SOUTHERN CONSIGNMENTS . STIMULATING CONSUMPTION Heavier supplies of apples are now coming on ; to the local market. The Auckland deliveries this week will be about 10,800 cases, from Nelson 6000 cases have .already arrived by sea via Onehunga, and 8000 cases have been received by rail from Hawke's Bay. Seeing that there will be no export market this season —the compelling reason why* the Primary Produce Marketing Department made its marketing arrangement with the growers —supplies will far exceed those that have ever been consumed in New Zealand in any previous season. Thus it becomes almost a duty in the national interest for the people to eat more apples. Comprehensive Campaign

To encodrage consumption the department has arranged a very comprehensive selling campaign. Every form of publicity will be exploited. There will be special displays in shops and it is anticipated'that retail distribution will be greatly widened by the services o:f grocery stores. Seeing that most of them are able to deliver fruit with other goods, many housewives will purchase in case or half-case quantities. Cox's orange, the main eating apple of this point of the season, was selling at auction yesterday at from 5s 6d to 6s 3d a case and cookers for as lovr as 3s 6d. Lower Range ol Prices Under the expanded system of distribution /consumers can confidently anticipate a lower range of prices than usual, particularly for case and halfcase orders, and thus consumption will be stimulated. It is hoped that housewives will take this favourable opportunity of using more apples in preserves, including sauces and chutneys. In the south the dehydration of apples /is being developed to help to absorb the embarrassing surplus. With the reduction of imported fruits it is hoped that the demand for dried apples will increase.