MARKETABLE FRUIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1682, 6 March 1917, Page 3

MARKETABLE FRUIT.

QUESTION OF WASTAGE

Some time ago Mr \V. If. Field, M.P., wrote to the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. \V. 1). S. 'MacDonald) suggesting that some fruitgrowers arc withholding market aide fruit with a view to increasing the price received for the remainder of the product of their orchards. In reply, the Minister has written to MiField: —“On going into this matter 1 tin(l no indications that any such practice has hern followed to an appreciable extent. It will he recognised that for the success of such a scheme a very full organisation would be necessary, as any fruitgrower who held hack a part of his output would confer an equal benefit on all other sellers, and unless the thing were done on a large scale the improvement in price would by no means compensate those who held fruit hack for their loss in so doing. As a matter of laid, the general tendency throughout Xew Zealand is to market fruit without sufficient culling, that is to market the las) possible bushel. A more probable cause of the shortage of fruit on the markets this season is the losses of stone fruits from attacks of the brown rot disease, which has caused certain ovchardists to destroy considerable quantities of their fruit owing to the knowledge that they would not reach the market in saleable condition. 1 may add that (he poorness of the season and lightness of crops generally have contributed materially to the high prices experienced.’’