More Plans

Ci As The

Garden Of Nz

Nfw 7FAT ANO’S demand for EW ZEALAND o demand ior tropical and semi-tropical fruit is the basis of many half-baked schemes for cashing-in on the Cook Islands ability to grow these commodities. Few such schemes have ever worked permanently, hfIWPW r Great interest, not all of it en couraging, was created in the Cook

Islands by the visit of two New Zealand business men in June.

First to arrive was Mr. Peter G.

Best, of Food Exporters (NZ) Ltd., a company registered in Auckland last November. The firm’s immedi ate interest in the Cooks appears to be in the promotion of a new outlet for fresh tomatoes to gouthern New Zealand mar kets.

First shipment of 16,000 cases, to be paid f or on a cas h basis, was projected for mid-August.

The tomato crop is an expanding and extremely valuable one for these islands. In the 1955-56 financial year the crop brought in £lOO,OOO, being the most valuable export.

Until now most of the tomatoes have gone to one very big Auckland

firm, who have purchased them on] a “consignment” basis, the payout being made on the basis of the price] received at auction, less all charges.

The idea of an on-the-beach price, prior to shipment, is likely to be very attractive to growers.

Mr. Best was emphatic that his company’s interest in the trade would not affect the business of the Auckland firm. His fruit would go to southern New Zealand markets.

However, despite his assurances, there were signs that the other firm and its associated interests in Rarotonga, might actively oppose the entry of any newcomer to the trade.

Aside from the business angle, Mr.

Best did not receive a particularly warm welcome from the Administra tion, probably due to his lack of candour in certain directions. His company has a registered capital of only £5,000.

Additional to the promotion of shipments of fresh tomatoes, Mr.

Best showed interest in the pro cessing of citrus juice and other produce. It appeared that another firm might do the actual process ing.

Mr. Best appeared to have the blessings of the Department of Island Territories in Wellington, anyhow, as he was allotted a priority seat in the Civil Aviation Department’s DCS when it departed for New Zealand in June.

NEXT to arrive, doing the round trip in Maui Pomare, and with the avowed blessing of Island Territories Dept, was a Mr. Wattie of the New Zealand food processing firm of Watties Canneries Ltd.

Hastings, also interested in the local processing of fresh produce.

On his return to Auckland, ir early July, Mr. Wattie indicates that he had found the situatioi very promising. Certain aspects would have to be ironed out witli the Minister of Island Territories but there appeared to be no reason why a valuable industry, operatec in conjunction with the existinj fresh-produce export trade, coult not be established at Rarotonga though it may take several years to get into operation.

Mr. Wattie expressed particulaj interest in the pineapple crop, nov based mainly on Mangaia a n Aitutaki. For a variety of reason he said it would be best to centr the processing plant at Rarotonga where there is a better —though sti.. far from good—supply of fres:; water, much needed for the industry Mr. Wattie said that a processiru industry would have to be base? on the produce which woul normally be wasted between fresh fruit shipments to New Zealand.

The processing plant would not fe able to pay the same prices as th fresh fruit export trade, but : would absorb, at a reasonable pric-;

Jill produce otherwise now wasted.

Quick-freeze processing as well as canning would be employed. There was a ready market in New Zea land and elsewhere for citrus juice,

fruit salad, quick-frozen beans —a crop which could be profitably de veloped—and other island produce now produced, or which could be produced.