FRUIT PROBLEM

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21356, 26 February 1941, Page 2

FRUIT PROBLEM

INTERRUPTED EXPORT PROSPECT OF LOCAL'SALES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday 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 graded fruit at fixed prices. The average price this year will be 5s 3d a case, giving growers an increased net return ol s£d. Because of the shortage of shipping space last year only half the usual amount could be exported. The Government conducted an extensive advertising campaign with the 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 being exported and all the rest disposed or 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-supporting. The crop this year is late, but increasing supplies are expected in the next few weeks. Although 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 cat more locally-grown fruit. Supplies will be offered in case lots through retailers mainly, but also through railway stations and dairy factories.