EXPORT OF APPLES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 8

EXPORT OF APPLES

THE GRADING QUESTION.

The: Auckland' '.'Star" reports, that the;,members;of the Birkdale Fruit-' ■'. growers' "Association recently discussed a proposal ,to have pears and applet packed.and; graded'by expert men at a centre depot in Auckland.' This would involve a charge of -lid.' per- case, packing, grading, paper, and .wood-wool. The proposal for the • proper grading and packing of their Fruit'met with the hearty approval and Buppqrt.of the;members, some of whom . • expressed themselves.strongly in favour-, 'nf preventing all .'-rubbish".finding its way; into the, market. .However, with regard to the suggestion that each conyignment .must' contain not less than *12 cases of -one variety of apples or •.pears,.it -was pointed out that this would preclude the scheme being of much'benefit to the small growers, each of whom in the Birkdale district, as a rule, had a number of varieties of apples. The advantages which the members hoped to see achieved as the result of the proper grading and packing, were • a better return.for their labours, as in/ the case of a "glut" the fruit could be • placed in a cool chamber, and held for a fair price locally, or exported, while the; grading would be a guide and ' guarantee to the purchaser and consumer; The secretary of the association (Mr.T. H. Shepherd) intends making a canvass of the Birkdale growers in or- ■ der to ascertain the probable crop, and approximate guarantee of quantity that could be offered to the Auckland depot for grading and packing.