BRITAIN’S APPETITE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23599, 8 September 1938, Page 16

BRITAIN’S APPETITE

FEWER APPLES EATEN (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON. Aug. 15. Appetites for apples in the United Kingdom during 1937 were much weaker, according to the Imperial Economic Committee. Although on an average people consumed more raw fruit individually, their demands for apples were the lowest in the past seven years. Since 1931 the individual has eaten an average of 24.51 b of apples a year but in 1937 consumption fell to 20.4ib. the previous lowest for the period being 221 b in 1931. It was a sharp fall on the consumption for 1936. when individuals ate an average of 261 b. Since 1931 there has been a steady, if fluctuating, rise in the quantity of raw fruit eaten per head of the population in the United Kingdom. In that year the figure was 801 b It rose to 961 b in 1934 a peak year for practically all fruits, fell back to 791 b in 1935. and increased again to 861 b last year. ■ ' Oranges compete with apples for popular favour, and last year individuals ate an average of 81b more oranges than apples. Bananas rank as the third most popular fruit (15.21 b per head), and show a steady increase in consumption, and, although imports of grapefruit are small in comparison, this fruit is gaining a bigger market. Average consumption is now_3ib per head, compared with 21b in 19JI,