POTATOES FOR SOUTH AMERICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 11

POTATOES FOR SOUTH AMERICA

RECORD SHIPMENTS THIS SEASON HOPE FOR PERMANENT MARKET (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, May 27. It is estimated by the Christchurch office of the Department of Agriculture that 12,000 tons of potatoes will be shipped from North and. South Canteroury this season to Uruguay and the Argentine. This is believed to be a New Zealand record for any one year. So far this season 60,000 sacks of potatoes have been shipped to South America from Lyttelton and Timaru. Periodical shipments have already been arranged until the end of August, and very heavy shipments will be made in June. Last season the total exports to South America comprised 110,000 sacks. Two-thirds of the potatoes being shipped this season are bagged in centals (1001 b lots), and the remainder in weights up to 1501 b. Approximately 60 per cent, of the shipments are made up of Dakotas and 40 per cent, of whites. All potatoes have to bear an export certificate, issued by the department, before being accepted for shipment. Rejections are reported to have been fairly heavy on the score of disease and condition. The department states, however, that merchants are now putting up a good pack in point of absence of disease. The potato season has so far been fairly good; Some difficulty is being experienced with Dakotas because of hollow-heart condition, brought about to a large extent by over-rapid growth.

The potato trade with South America lapsed for several years until last sea-j son, and the prospects are that the revival in export will be a permanent one. New Zealand potatoes arrive in South America at the time when the market in Uruguay and the Argentine is bare of supplies and before European potatoes, of which these countries import vast quantities yearly, are ready for shipment. It appears that, if the same care fostered by the Department of Agriculture continues to be taken as has been taken by exporters from New Zealand in the last two seasons there will be a permanent market in South America. The production of potatoes has tended to increase in NewNew Zealand and this export outlet is extremely welcome.