BETTER QUALITY FRUIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 21 May 1934, Page 6

BETTER QUALITY FRUIT

GISBORNE APPLE EXPORTS 96-5 PER CENT TOP GRADE INCREASE TO CONTINENT Gisborne has never exported a greater percentage of highest grade apples than it did during the season just closed, when of 22,051 cases passed for export only 3.29 per cent, fell below the extra fancy, or top, grade.. A marked improvement has been taking place during the past few years, and this year’s performance is over 10 per cent, better than two years ago. The following table gives the quantities and percentages of the extra fancy and fancy exports from Gisborne for the past three seasons, and it is pleasing to note that no fruit of the good or third grade has been exported from Gisborne in those seasons.

The exceptionally high percentage of extra fancy apples was explained by the orchard instructor, Mr. P. Everett, who stated that there were two, main reasons, firstly, the high color attained and an almost entire absonce of russet caused by spray injury. He said growers were to be congratulated on the steady improvement they had effected in the quality i of the export fruit. 1 r Mr. Everett also remarked on the big increase iu the exports during the season just closed, compared with the original estimate. The early bookings, v he said, were for approximately 12,000 cases. Two orchardists who usually sent overseas a considerable quantity of fruit retained their entire crop for local trade this season. In addition, approximately 10 acres of orchard usually ex-porting apples were cut out since last season. In view of the circumstances, the export of 22,051 cases of apples was a very creditable performance. The export of pears during the season just closed was very small indeed, only 48 cases, all fancy, making tho total quantity of fruit exported from tho district during the season just closed 22,099 cases, the third largest exports since the district commenced sending fruit overseas in 1926. in respect of pears, the Gisborne exports have never been above 448 cases, and this year two orchardists who had exported previously retained thoir crops for the local market. I _ ' Gisborne shipments since the commencement of exports have been as under: —

Shipments from Gisborne last increased both in quantity and in per-' ccntage to tho United Kingdom and to the Continent of "Europe compared with 1933, while to South America the quantities have increased but the percentages of total exports show a decline. Canadian shipments showed a marked decline. The following table gives the destination of Gisborne’s fruit exports for the 1933 and 1934 seasons: — 1933 1934 Cases. % Cases. % (J.K.* .. 7,536 69.33 15,752 71.27 Continent 1,156 10.58 4,228 19-13 S. America 910 8.37 1,284 5.81 Canada .. 1,273 11.71 835 3.77 Totals 30,869 22,099 ♦lncludes pears. The following table gives the exports of the various varieties, showing the number of cases of fancy and extra fancy for each variety:— Extra

Totals .. 21,327 724 22,051 From Granny Smith downwards, in the above list went to the UJiKed Kingdom. Delicious was the only variety that went to all four destinations, although only 20. cases were sent to tho Continent of Europe. Nearly 2000 cases of Sturmers went to the Continent, the rest to the United Kingdom, while Ballarats, Dunns and Jonathans also went to Europe, South America took only Delicious, while Canada took Delicious and Statesman, together with only three! cases of Doughertys and eight cases! of Jonathans. The one case of Stay-J man ’.s Winesap mentioned above was al gift case for the United Kingdom. I Only two varieties were represented! among the pears, 20 cases of Winter! Nelis and 28 cases, of Winter Cole, all for the United Kingdom and ail the fancy grade. ,

Extra' Fanev. Fancy. Cases. % Cases. % 1932 . . 20,111 80.59 3,112 13.40 1933 . . 9,807 92.46 804 7.53 1934 . . 21.327 96.71 772 3.29

Apples. Pears. Cases. Cases. .1926 .. 9,686 — 1927 .. 4,079 / _ 192S .. 24,43.1 — 1929 .. 13,506 ' 434 1930 21,855 . — 1931 .. 17,343 — 1932 23,222 448 1933 .. 10,671 198 1934 .. 22,051 - 48

Taney Taney Total Variety. Cases Cases Cases Delicious 7,501 194. 7,$93 Stumer 5,348 79 6,427 3,484 Ballarat 3,484 — Dougherty .. Dunns 1,633 1,487 508 243 ,1,867 1,487 Cox’s Orango 105 613 Jonathan 506 79 58o Statesman .. 266 — 266 Granny Smith 264 — 264 Shorland Queen 143' 12 155 McIntosh Red 108 — 108 Simmonds’Winter 37 9 46 Brighton 41 3 44 Stayman’s Winesap 1 i 1