SECOND GRADE APPLES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17233, 12 April 1930, Page 15

SECOND GRADE APPLES

CASH VALUE OF REJECTS PROBLEM TOR P.B. GROWERS Eiicli sot of primary producers has problems peculiar to itseli,. and tho fruitgrower is no exception to tho general rule. One of the problems which has been under discussion in Poverty lbay for some time is the disposal of reject apples. Out of every lot picked for export there are a certain number unexportable on account of some defect. These are distinct from the usual first class apples which are kept for the local market. The rejects, or second grades, have been disposed of cheaply in the past, but the unloading of large numbers of these on to the market has temporarily spoiled the sale of those of better type. Poverty Bay growers have been discussing methods of the disposal of the rejects in order to keep them out of competition with the first grade apples, but so far no satisfactory solution has presented itself. A proposal that they be destroyed was made, but without satisfactory results. Pome orchards have many hundreds of (uses of rejects on hand, and to let these go to waste is naturally money lost to tho growers if it. is possible to dispose of them in a satisfactory manner. The United States, known as the “land of efficiency,” has solved the problem by making millions of cases of unsaleable apples ?hto vinegar. Vinegar Manufacture.

n the United States apples arc

I classed into three grades, the first and third of which are retained for the local markets, the second grade being c'.ported. The idea in retaining the first and third grades for local consumption is that fruit from those two grades could be hardly mixed, whereas ‘here is such little difference between first and second or between second or third grades that fruit in either of these pairs may bo mixed in retailing it, but with first, and third grades there is not the same possibility of this practice being adopted. Any fruit that does not come up to the third grade standard is not permitted to come on to the market. In the extensive orchards in the United States there are millions of barrels of such fruit, and a use is found for it. Much of it is made into vinegar, and a photograph of one lot assembled prior to making a brew gives some idea of the enormous number of apples that are used for this purpose. Large quantities are also used for other by-products, such as dried apples. Vinegar brewed from apples is said to be more costly than that made from acids, but a better product is. obtainuble from the fruit, and it appears Unit tin 1 public of the United States has been educated to appreciate the iud ter type, which lias a free sale. Reluctant Manufacturers.

With the idea of investigating the possibilities of such an industry in New Zealand, Mr. ,T. 0. Hardy, secretary of tin' Poverty Bay Fruitgrowers' Association, when in Auckland recently, made inquiries front some of the manufacturers there. Those he approached agreed that there were possibilities in building up industries from orchard rejects, but there appeared to be a reluctance to take the initiative. The higher cost, of apple vinegar was one of the barriers, while in connection with the dried apple business there was also the possibility of failure.

Even if something of the nature wore undertaken the greatest price that could he paid for the reject apples would lie £•'! a ton. This, however, said Mr. Hardy, in discussing the matter with the writer, should he acceptable to the growers and would he better than having the apples go to waste, while it would relieve the market of competition between first and second grade fruit. It appeared impossible, however, to induce any of the manufacturers to take the initiative.