NEW ZEALAND PASSION FRUIT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND PASSION FRUIT

ON LONDON MENU SHIPMENT FROM AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, August 29. A successful trial shipment of passion fruit from Auckland, which was sent to England, has resulted in numerous inquiries, and it is possible that it may be the foreunner of further shipments, aand the commencement of a valuable export trade. In the early part of the present year it was decided to make a shipment from passion fruit of the ordinary commercial variety. The fruit was packed in boxes of 201 b each. The shipment left New Zealand on April 20th last, and arrived in Londoi) on June 7th, and figured on the menu of an “All New Zealand” dinner that was given to Sir James Alien prior to him relinquishing the position of the High CommissioneTship. Although the shipment was something in the way of a novelty it has had the effect of attracting wide interest. English experts declare that the New Zealand passion fruit is unsurpassed in flavour, and they are anxious that further shipments should be made. In the past the English fruit market has been supplied largely frqm Brazil and the West Indies with grandella and maypop, both members of the passion, fruit family, the former growing to the size of a child’s head, and the latter, a yellow-coloured fruit, about the dimensions of a medium sized apple. An Auckland grfiwer states that if the export trade in passion fruit could be developed it would mean a lot to the Auckland province, as the climate is particularly adapted to it. It is not known what prices the New Zealand article would average on the Home markets, but the successful trial shipment has proved that the fruit carries well.