THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1723, 14 April 1913, Page 8

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY

MARKETING PROBLEMS. A recent issue contained some remarks made by an Argentine visitor regarding tho immense possibilities that are offering in South America for New Zealandgrown apples, together with sonic advico as to tli3 most profitable varieties to produce i:i order to satisfy the demands of this oversea market. This prophecy is supported by the tangible fact of ii large order having been placed in NewZealand this year, embracing some 30,000 cases which is now being supplied from the leading fruit-growing . centres, and if the exported fruit turns out satisfactorily at the other end, a good market for surplus supplies will bo assured for many years. It is understood that this year's consignment is being closely scrutinised by experts, who aro keeping watch to detect and prevent the inclusion of any questionable samples. Great caro is also being exercised with the grading and packing, two factors that have a wido determining influcnco on tho markets at the consumers' end. During tho past four years some ten thousand acres have lieen brought under fruit culture in various parts of tho country, making a total of about 3-1,000 acres now in occupation. In . reply, to a question put by a representative of Tjie Dominion as "to whether growers are making the needful provision for tho disposal of fruit in proportion to tho area that is annually being brought under cultivation, a gentleman who has made the marketing of apples a particular study for many years, said that unfortunately the growers s» far have not given 'tho question of systematic distribution anything liko tho attention that! its importance demands. The weakness, he continued, will soon be unmistakably obvious and severely felt by the producer from now on. "Largo areas that have been planted with apples ace now coming into profit and under the present haphazard' system of marketing there are going to be many heartburnings because of a lack of control that will efficiently regulate tho supply according to demand. This has always been a recognised weakness with, fruit marketing and now that supplies are about to exceed local demands tho business has to bo controlled in a thorough businesslike manner. Under tho supervision of State experts, growers have been educated very well 'in methods cf production and caro of their trees; but they show a lamentablo weakness in Iho great essential of effective disposal. Por years tho Departmental officers have pointed to this defect and have enjoined tho producer to adopt tho principle of co-operative marketing, but with lew exceptions without avail. . The time has come, however, when this necessity can no longer be profitably'disregarded. The grower is already suffering from the effects of irregular supplies and .carelessly packed fruit, and it is only a nutter now of how much he is prepared to lose before s he will heed tho cry for reforms that can only be accomplished by his co-operation. It is estimated that under proper business management tho fruit export of this country will rival that ,of the dairy factory, but before stable markets abroad can be established tho same care and attention will need to bo given to fruit going abroad as is now given to dairy products. Ointral depots for the grading, packing, and standardising of all fruit for export will need to be established and supervised.. Cool stores will need to bo provided in every large producing centre so that supplies may be controlled and sent forward with a certainty that tho quality will bo preserved. By and by some enterprising capitalists will take this matter up and reap their reward, then' the producer who has not already become disheartened will bewail that the middle-man is scooping up tho profits that belong to him, yet now that, tho opportunity presents ' itself of: controlling' the whole business from orchard .to consumer,_ the grower is showing apathy that will bring its own reward. Another matter, said our informant, that requires immediate attention is the adoption of standard' cases so that the consumer: may know exactly what weight of fruit lis is purchasing, at present every packer designs his own package and the variation of their contents causes no end of dissatisfaction. It is understood that an officer of the Orchards Division of tho Agricultural Department, who makes packing and packs a speciality, will be in attendance at the forthcoming winter shows where demonstrations of the proper and most popular methods will bo given daily,