New Process Aids Export of Fruit

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 776, 24 September 1929, Page 11

New Process Aids Export of Fruit

NO COLD STORAGE AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERY Preservation of fruit for export is expected to be revolutionised by a new process which a big company lias been formed in Australia to exploit, according to Mr. W. G. Rashleigh, who arrived by the Maheno from Melbourne today. A former Aucklander, Mr. Rashleigh has been appointed manager of the £IOO,OOO Nyah Grape Producers’* Manufacturing Company, which has been floated by the fruitgrowers in that district. After devoting considerable study to the export of grapes in cold storage, Mr. Rashleigh claims to have discovered a process by which grapes and citrus fruits can be treated and preserved for many months without any cold storage. The fruit handled in this way, he states, retains its natural freshness and flavour. The machines for treating the fruit were designed by Mr. Rashleigh, who holds that a considerable amount of fruit waste during the season will be thus eliminated. The surplus can be preserved or pickled, and kept in perfect condition until the off season and then placed on the market at a time when it will command a good price. By the new preservation method the whole fruit is encased in a perfectly airtight substance like celluloid, which remains on until the fruit is sold to the customer, who requires only lo wash the outer covering off with warm water. BEAUTIFUL CONDITION It is possible to treat' grapes, oranges, tomatoes and lemons by the new method, says Mr. Rashleigh. An experimental lot of lemons, which was put through the preservative, was turned out in beautiful condition. The company is expecting to handle 2,000 tons of grapes at the factory at Nyah at Christmas during a ten-weeks’ season. On his return to Australia 4,000 cases of tomatoes will be put through the process. The success of the method, he says, is reflected in the splendid exhibit of treated fruit now at Melbourne Roj r al Show, at life conclusion of which the fruit is to be repacked and sent to England. “It is the starting point of a big development in 'the export fruit industry,” says Mr. Rashleigh. He points out. that Australia has fortunately moved before the Americans, who are promoting a 13,000,000-dollar concern to preserve fruit in California for overseas. The preservative process is very* cheap, and he considers it will be profitable for every grower to have his surplus fruit treated by this method. The company is also undertaking the crystallising of grapes in the same way as cherries are treated. Combining pleasure with business on this trip to New Zealand. Mr. Rashleigh intends investigating the preservation of strawberries in the Dominion by the new process. He claims that the New Zealand product is far more luscious and larger than the Australian strawberry, and that a splendid market would be opened up for it overseas. industry is established on a sound basis, the company intends to extend its operations to New Zealand, its particular objective being the treatment of citrus fruits, principally lemons#