MARKETING OF FRUIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23830, 4 December 1940, Page 13

MARKETING OF FRUIT

Sir, —Your Wednesday's issue contained a statement from the Minister of Marketing to the elfect that the wastage of apples during last season was approximately 2 per cent. May J point out that this refers only to rejections by the Marketing Hoard, after the grower has carefully graded and packed the fruit in an endeavour to comply with the board's very drastic regulations. I'lie wastage occurs on the orchard. The usual cause ot rejection is some technical fault in packing or slight, blemish on the fruit, which the grower has overlooked and the consumer would not notice, Unsoundness is only one of many reasons, which a perusal ot the grading regulations or a visit to an orchard in the season would prove. The Government price lor accepted apples last season averaged little over a halfpenny a lb. for fruit alone. The cost of packing and material (much of it unnecessary, hut compulsory) was over three-farthings, making the return to the grower considerably under threehalfpence. on which lie cannot continue to exist. On the other hand, the Minister has realised record prices in F.ngland. and retail prices here have been generally higher than usual, and much higher than they ought to be. The whole matter of the Internal Marketing Board's activities and objects seems to need inquiry. Ouch akihst.