SURPLUS OF APPLES AND PEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 48, 26 February 1941, Page 6

SURPLUS OF APPLES AND PEARS

NO EXPORT LIKELY SLOGAN OF “EAT MORE LOCAL FRUIT” [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. A crop of 2,300,000 cases of apples and pears is expected in New Zealand this season, with practically no prospect of export because of the war. Normally, about 1,250,000 cases are exported. This sets a problem for the Internal Marketing Division which, for the second year in succession, will take all the growers’ graded fruit at fixed prices. The average price this year will be ,5s 3d a case, giving the growers an increased nett return of 5Jd, according to a statement made to-day by the Director of Internal Marketing, Mr. F. R. Picot. Last year, because of a shortage of shipping space, only half the usual amount could be exported. The Government conducted an extensive advertising campaign, with a result that local sales exceeded those of 1939 by a million cases, and passed the previous record set in 1938 by half-a million cases. The total quantity handled by the division was 2,470,000 cases—--587,000 cases were exported and 'all the rest were disposed of locally. Financial details of the year’s transactions are not yet available, but it is believed that, including export and local sales, the scheme was self-sup-porting. The crop this year is late, but increasing supplies are expected in the next few weeks. Though the total expected is less than that of last year the division’s problem is greater because there are now no facilities for export, and there is a growing demand on cool storage space for other produce. Accordingly, the public will again be asked to eat more locally-fll-own fruit. Supplies will be offered in case lots, through retailers mainly, but also through railway stations and dairy factories.