Candied Pineapple

Outlet for Manga

Through the initiative of missionary interested in a g ri c: tural projects for the betterment the people of Mangaia IslanJ the Cooks, there is promise o useful export trade in dried pi apple to New Zealand.

The missionary, the Rev. Fa} Placidus of the Catholic Miss has received orders for 50.000 1) the product from confectioi firms in New Zealand, and if] standard of the present produo maintained there are signs than trade can be expanded.

Through experimentation W' fertilisers on school pineapple it has been found that the p apple season can be consider lengthened at Mangaia.

In the past, a large part of: island’s pineapple crop has o been wasted due to irregularity shipping, or to it not being w while for a ship to call for a o paratively small shipment.

A big planting project is uc way at Mangaia, about 500,000 * pineapple plants having gone i about 220 new plots between « 1959, and March this year, am 1961 Mangaia should be prodv at least 10,500 bushels of export fruit.