NEW ZEALAND FRUIT AT TOP OF MARKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19258, 20 December 1930, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FRUIT AT TOP OF MARKET.

GROWERS ARE URGED TO TAKE STEADY PRICES.

Addressing a meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association at the Chambers of Commerce last evening, Mr J. Brotvn, chairman of the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board, stated that there was every prospect that Canterbury’s part in the fruit export trade would prove remunerative. He estimated that this season Canterbury’s export quota would approximate 22,000 cases, of which fifteen varieties would comprise 17,000 cases. The industry in New Zealand had shown a great increase. In the first year of export 200,000 cases of fruit were sent overseas, but the growth of the trade had been such that last season 1,300,000 cases were exported. It was the speaker's opinion that within a few years New Zealand’s overseas quota would be 2,000,000 cases, Canterbury contributing 100,000 to that total. Mr Brown added that intensive and careful methods of classification and standardisation had proved satisfactory to overseas buyers and had been the means of New Zealand fruit reaching the top of the market. Referring to the recent collapse of the fruit market in England and the Continent, the speaker stated that this was due to a glut of soft fruit and a huge Australian export totalling about 4,500,000 cases. He concluded by pointing out that growers should not look for exceptional returns but should be satisfied with fair and steady prices.