British Market For Fiji

Lemons

AN official inquiry was received by the Imperial Institute, London, in 1947, on behalf of a planter in Fiji re garding the possibility of a market for lemon juice in the United Kingdom. It was felt that should a reasonable outlet exist, other agriculturists in the Colony might be interested.

Following consultations with the Ministry of Food, information was given concerning the price that would be ob tainable for unconcentrated Fiji lemon juice of high quality, and it was advised that supplies should be offered to rhe Ministry if planters proved interested at the price indicated. As consideraDle quantities of lemon juice are imported into the United Kingdom mainly for the manufacture of soft drinks, there should be a continuing outlet here if the price is acceptable to producers.

More tentatively, the Fiji authorities also inquired concerning a market for lemon peel in brine and particulars were supplied regarding the method of its pre paration. it was observed that the peels are normally a by-product from other lemon processing and in the ordinary way the costs to the producer are the provision of casks and the labour of pre paration. Sicily is the chief producing area. Just now imports of the material are limited on account of the large amounts of sugar required in processing. —lmperial Institute’s Annual Report.

A daughter was born, on May 18, to Mr. and Mrs. N. B. Blood, of Finschhafen, New Guinea.