THE APPLE EXPORT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 10

THE APPLE EXPORT

GROWING TRADE.. : PRESENT CONDITIONS & PROS-I'KC-TS. - -;■■; Nelson -growers state that there is every prospect of tho apple export trado with South. America growing to be a very big thing. Tho output this season is much greater than it was a vear ago.Nelson provinco is Now Zealand's chief apple-exporting district, nnd at present almost tlio whole of tho apples sent out of the country aro going to South America. Any quantity up to 100,000 cases of apples will bo exported' from hero-to tlio big continent beforo the season' is oyer. Tlio Americans send representatives out to make a' straight-out deal. Tho price agreed upon was os. Gd.\ per ease, but once the first orders were ful-' filled the prico has advanced as liigh 'as Bs. Tasmania!! growers aro only getting .is.; fltl., and tho,additional freight is only threepence. Tlio fact that New •Zealand growers aro getting considerably better prices than Tasmanians_ is. taken as an indication that our fruit is the better. Also, it is known that New Zealand apples havo been arriving in much better condition than Tasmnnians. Tnsmanian growers are said to havo got careless; and regarded, South America as a dumping ground—this to their loss and New Zealand's gain.- The Now Zealand applois of a better colour than tlio Tasmaiiian, and is slightly larger. This advantage-in appearance is reckoned to bo valuable in America. Ono of -the reasons for tho New Zealand fruit's arrival in such good condition is that tho packing lias to pass tho Government experts before it goes away. A stipulation to this effect is.made by tlio buy-, crs, and rojwatcdly.-isupportcd tho'idca. One buyer made arrangements with the Stoke and the Montero Associations this season for 15,000 cases of apples to be serit:.to South America, and lias since stated th.it tho exporters may make the quantity 100,000 cases. Tho difficulty is to find tho quantity. The. same associations have practically been- told that they may make the order for nest season 200,000 cases.

New Zealand isrccteJhcd "tcf""b'o'"iif tho best position of all countries for supplying apples to America in the continent's off-season. Growers havo great hopes of tli'6 completion "of tho Panama Canal, still:furthcr can markets. There is'u* migo ipopnlation from. Now Orleans northward, and in this area it is'lioped to find a profitable hold "for. enterprise.; "New Zealand is more favourably situated for. American fruit trade than South Africa .is for- trade with England, and South 'Africa sends o~en plums., and,cherries to tho Old-Country. ;■•■'■ ••' : Tho value, of tho apple export trado to New Zealand mav be gouged froni the fact that if 100,000 cases are got away to Spilth America.this sc.ason at aii avorago.-'prico-of 75.-per : case, tho cheque- amounts %o £35 ; 000. Tho arrangenient,'for payment is verw satisfac- ■ tory. J'ruifc. is shipped at Nelson on, say, Tuesday,, and-tho grower has__the cheque ' oii'l'Viday—tho money'' : is''sent" immediately.'tho fruit has passed tho inspector libro in Wellington. In estimating tho;growth of the American trade, a Nelson grower stated yesterday that he"; reckoned that tho output would double every''threp-y.eprsr ; --;^;'_*^; There- must-be"a grcat' ] 'prbfir"jn'apple- ■ vending in South America. Now Zealand apples are sometimes disposed of ■at from sixpence each upwards.•■- Tho avcraiio is 1-10 apples per case, and at sixpence- each, tho case would bodisposcd of at £3 105: ; ■'\

Nelson growers just now aro getting ].2s. per case on iho New Zealand markets, and'reckon that tho fignrp" woukl lave been 15s. but for the strike.