FRUITGROWERS UNLUCKY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 8

FRUITGROWERS UNLUCKY

GOOD BRITISH MARKET STORM DAMAGE WILL AFFECT EXPORTS. Right on top of the disastrous blow which has been struck at the fruitgrowers by the weather recently, and which lias played havoc with the orchards in most parts of the Dominion, comes the news that the prospects for New Zealand fruit on the English market are exceptionally bright, . It is the more unfortunate by reason of the fact that the fruitgrowers, with the aid of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation and invaluable aid from the Horticultural Department, have done so much to build up a connection in London for New Zealand apples, while experiments in other directions, such as passion fruit and lemons, promised to be equally successful. When New Zealand requirements have been met there will probably be an immense shortage in the quantity of first-class fruit for shipment, and many fruitgrowers are faced with serious losses. NEWS FROM LONDON Air Len McKenzie, who is now on a holiday in the Old Country, writes us follows: There is a great season in front of the New Zealand apple exporters for the coming season. I have now been from one end of Britain to the other, b-oth on and off the beaten track, and in no place have I seen a crop worth while; in fact, the English crop this season is a failure, whilst last year they had the finest crop known in Britain for years. The great cooker sold is Bramley Seedling, and they were able to keep those of 1925 right through the winter, but this year they are on their last supplies now. This is a fine fiat apple and therefore a popular baker, but I think there is ample room for such as Washington and other lines of the same class as grown in New Zealand. Packing.—All the retailers state that our apples were packed better last season and they saw a marked improvement. We are not up to the standard of America yet, but better than Australia by virtue of the grading and the fact that our cases, like the American, are not so deep, which is an advantage. I saw several cases opened, both of New Zealand and Australian, and found that the bottom of deep Australian were not nearly as good as the more shallow boxes from New Zealand. This is accounted for by the trade to the fact that there is not so much pressure on the bottom of our cases, and they are therefore more suitable under cool storage. Many of our apples were picked' just too soon, and although they reached these markets in good condition they have not the crisp flavour they should have had., Winter Cole pears should come in greater numbers, as pears are very popular, and you can seldom purchase one in a shop under 2d, while they go up as high as 7d and 9d each. Duane du Comice is the high priced pear to-day. American Jonathan, 8d; Cox’s Ogre Pippin, 8d to lOd lb; and this is the flush of the English season.