LEMON PRICES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 99, 2 September 1942, Page 5

LEMON PRICES

INCREASE SOUGHT

G ROWERS' DIF'FJ CULTIES

The opinion that the guaranteed price for lemons paid to the grower was quite inadequate and that unless some substantial increase was given the future of the industry would be definitely jeopardised is expressed in a statement issued by the N.Z. Citrus Council, which recently held its annual conference at Tauranga. Delegates were present from Auckland, Kerikeri and the Bay of Plenty.

Growers could not continue to produce lemons unless the cost, of production, worked out on the Dominion average of 8/2 a loose bushel ease could be obtained, says the statement. They were anxious to supply the needs of the Dominion and felt that with full co-operation between the growers and the Internal Marketing Department lemon requirements could be met. At present there appeared to be too great a difference between the growers' returns and the cost to the consumer, but it was confidently hoped that the gap would, be narrowed so as to give growers their production costs. " With a view to reducing shed costs it is proposed to pay growers on the basis of counts rather than grades. Certain sized lemons would go into the preferred group, then out,sizes into another, while peel j fruit would constitute a third. Thus one grade only, but of different sizes, would be retailed.