Thr London Market for Preserved tVuits. 161 



THE LONDON MARKET FOR PRESERVED FRUITS. 



By J. M. Sinclair. 



Canned Fruit, 



The consumptiou of canned fruits, especially apricots, peaches 

 and pears, is larg-ely increasing throughout the United Kingdom, 

 chiefly due to the wide distribution of those exported from California. 

 The care taken by the Califoj-nians in the selection of fine fruit for 

 this purpose, prepared and canned in a faultless manner, and the sale 

 of it at a price which put it in the power of the masses to purchase, 

 has led to a large and regular consumption of this article. The fact 

 that over £812,000 worth is imported from the United States, nearly 

 all from California, will indicate how much their fruit-growers are 

 benefited by developing this trade. This canned fruit is nearly all 

 shipped by sailing vessels from California, the voyage being quite as 

 long as from Victoria. During the past two years prices have not 

 varied to any great extent, and, at present, the .ruling quotation for 

 Californian standard apricots, two and a half pound tins gross, is from 

 OS. 6d. to OS. 9d. per dozen ; and peaches and pears, 6s. 6d. per dozen ; 

 for 8 lb. tins gross, extra apricots, 7s. to 8s. per dozen. The two and 

 a half tin is the most marketable size, and that in which the largest 

 trade is done. The three pound tins contain a large fiaiit of better 

 grade than the two and a half pound tin, and 'a thicker syrup is used. 

 I submitted some samples of Victorian apricots and ])eaches to one of 

 the largest London brokers, and he pronounced the fruit to be excel- 

 lent, but stated that the syrup in the three pound tins was rather thin, 

 the trade requiring it heavier. During the past two years canned 

 pears have come into favor, and are preferred to the apricot, importers 

 informing me that two cases of pears to one of apricots are now sold. 

 The Bartlett or Williams' Bon Chretien is the best canning variety. 

 The whole output of a Californian canning company is frequently 

 bought up in advance, especially any which has earned a reputation 

 in selection, grading and putting up in the best possible manner. 



Californian companies are now forwarding considerable quantities 

 of their fruit in glass jars, the finest peaches, apricots and pears 

 only being used. These contain about the same quantity of fruit as the 

 two and a half pound tin, but there are also some of a larger size. They 

 are beautifully put up, and the demand for them is increasing, the 

 price charged being about thirty per cent, higher than for the tinned 

 article. 



I think the time is approaching when Victoria will be able to 

 enter into the trade of supplying canned fruits for British consump- 

 tion, as prices are showing a tendency to gradually advance, since the 

 Californian output, which is the principal one in the world, has met 

 with a wide and sustained demand, but in any case there should be 

 an outlet in the other Australian States and New Zealand. 



