APPLE SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23617, 29 March 1940, Page 8

APPLE SUPPLIES

STOCKS ACCUMULATE 8000 CASES ARRIVE DAILY CONSIGNMENTS FROM SOUTH With tho heavy local crop of fruit being supplemented by large consignments from southern districts, apples lor consumption in the Auckland district are now reaching the city hulk stores at the rate of about 8000 cases daily. Since the middle of I'ehruary. the raie of consumption has been more than trebled, but supplies are so heavy at the peak period of the season that it is difficult to keep the stock turning over. War conditions have this season necessitated the disposal of almost the entire crop on the New Zealand market. Approximately .'3.000,000 cases have to be placed in consumption and, while a. proportion of the output will be reserved jn store, the bulk is being put on tho market for immediate sale. The estimated yield for the Auckland and Waikato districts is 368,000 cases, but, in addition, largo supplies are being received from the south for disposal in the province. A shipment is expected from Nelson orchards to-day, and some thousands of cases are also arriving from Hawkc's Bay. A start has been made in storing 800,000 cases for distribution later in the year, but, even with this provision, the rate at which the fruit is arriving is placing a strain on the marketing system. Retailers are stated to have responded well to the Governments appeal for the increased consumption necessitated by war conditions, and the low price of the fruit coupled with their efforts have resulted in heavy retail sales. However, the expansion in demand has not yet equalled the increasing supplies, which will remain at a peak level for the next three or four weeks.