NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4742, 25 August 1924, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND APPLES.

SOUTH AMERICAN SHIPMENTS. PURELY SEASONAL MARKET. “In point of quality, preparation, packing, and general appearance, New Zealand apples stand comparison with and fiuit imported into South America,’ said Mr W. H. Rice, Orchard Instructor, of the Department of Agriculture, to a “Dominion” reporter on Wednesday last. Mr Rice has just returned from Argentina and Uruguay where he superintended the disposal of a shipment of apples on behalf of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation,

“In the past," continued Mr Rice, “fruit has always been sent as ordinary cargo, - and generally arrives in perfect dessert condition, but with a certain percentage of deterioration, mainly caused by the temperature of the ship’s hold. If the fruit were sold on arrival for immediate consumption tliis would not concern us very much, but such is not the case. When the fruit arrives commission agents purchase it, and resell to wholesalers. As there is not always an immediate market, the fruit is often placed in cool storage, but being too ripe, rapidly deteriorates. This is our main difficulty, and I think it can be overcome by shipping in refrigerating

space.’’ Asked in what condition the last shipment arrived, Mr Rice said that it was a better shipment than that of the previous season, but higher prices could not 'be expected until the buyers were assured of better keeping qualities in the fruit. “What are the possibilities for increasing our trade with these countries ?” asked the reporter.

“New Zealand fruit is held in the highest of esteem,” Mr Rice replied, “but unfortunately for us large quantities of fruit arc shipped from Chile and the United States. Our market is purely a seasonal one, and in my estimatioi 80,000 cases a season are as many as we could safely send for some years to come.” Asked if there was any possibility of other products being exported to advantage, Mr Rice replied that the honey producers should succeed in doing considerable businses if their prices were right. The honey at present on these markets was of a very inferior grade.

“Despite the fact that these countries are great butter producers,” continued Mr Rice, “I was agreeably surprised to find that large quantities of the New Zealand product were used in clubs, and other places where quality was demanded.” “I vzas very well received by all classes of people in these very cosmopolitan countries,” he added. “They have a very high regard for Britishers, and everything British. They are very courteous, and a high standard of culture prevails amongst the better classes. If I were asked to name their favourite form of amusement I would unhesitatingly say ‘grand opera.’ All with whom I came in contact could speak several languages. Spanish, of course, is the national language, but English -s spoken almost everywhere. They are keen sportsmen, and it is a striking fact that their sporting instih'ets are distinctly British.”