EXPORT OF FRUIT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 2

EXPORT OF FRUIT

DEMAND FOR APPLES AND PEARS. The prospects of establishing a profitable export trado in fruit from New Zealand have received considerable encouragement lately by the appreciation that has been shown towards consignments that have igono abroad within the last year or so. This is being shown in a practical form by the receipt of an order for 30,000 cases of apples from the Argentine, and arrangements are now being made to secure contributions of good coloured dessert varieties. The Waitemata Society has undertaken to supply 4000 cases, and it is expected that no difficulty will be experienced in securing tho balance of tho order from other fruit-growing centres. Tho first shipments are to be made by the Remuera, leaving Wellington early next month for Buenos Ayres. In conversation with an Auckland reporter, tho manager of the Waitemata Fruitgrowers’ Society said that the price ofiered is higher than that paid by any other firm of exporters, therefore it was to the growers’ interests to encourage the movement, for by so doing in all probability they will find in South America a profitable market for all the surplus fruit, the amount of which is increasing every year. Another direction in which an export trade in fruit may be successfully established is outlined by Mr P. Duffy, one of tho largest operators in fruit on the Pacific Coast, who is now visiting New Zealand. Mr Duffy considers the best fruit to grow for the American market is the pear, and he thinks that there is a far better chance of establishing a market with that fruit than with apples. Speaking to an interviewer, Mr Duffy said: “My advice to New Zealand fruit-growers is grow pears, and when the Panama Canal is through you will be able to put your fruit into New York and tho other big centres in a little oyer three weeks. It is no good growing any sort of pear. Don’t touch the Bartlett if you want to dodge a losing proposition. I have had experience of

shipping Bartletts, and, you can take it from me, they don’t spell any profit for export. There are three kinds to grow—the best pears grown bar none, for shipping, keeping, and eating and they are the D’Comice, the D’Anjou, and the Winter Nelis. There are no others in it with them, and they can be grown to advantage in New Zealand. The man that goes in for raising those three pears for the American market will make a fortune in six or seven years. In the height of the season you can get 20s and 24s box of 501 b for these pears in Now York, so you can consider the profit for those who land them out of season.”