asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the soft fruit growing industry in East Meath is dying out because of the low prices which are being paid for fruit, and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fruit Growing Industry.
I am not aware that the position is as stated by the Deputy. The home market for soft fruit is protected and, as there are no restrictions on export, growers are free to dispose of their produce at the best possible prices obtainable either on the home market or abroad.
Is the Minister aware that raspberries were being sold in that district at 1/- per lb. from 1949 and that the price paid by the jam manufacturers last year was 10d. a lb.? In view of the higher production costs and in view of the fact that the people in that area, being small growers, are not in a position to export the fruit themselves, will he take some steps to remedy the position?
So far as I know the price paid by the jam manufacturers last year was £93 a ton, that is about 10d. a lb., but at that time the jam manufacturers could have purchased raspberry pulp in Great Britain at £77 10s. a ton. The problem is this. Are we to raise the cost of the pulp used by the jam manufacturers with a corresponding increase in the cost of jam to the consumers in this country, or what are we to do to get an increased price for raspberries for the growers in County Meath? If the Deputy—and I am not saying this in a derisory way—has any suggestion to make to me as to how we can help, I would be very glad to consider it. But I find myself in this dilemma, that I cannot raise the price of raspberries artificially without raising the price of jam. Should we then raise the price of jam? If the Deputy and his colleagues press that course upon me, I shall be very glad indeed to pass the benefit on to the raspberry growers of County Meath.
Is the Minister not aware that raspberries were imported from Sweden at a much higher price than that at which they were imported from England? In view of the fact that the jam manufacturers are apparently willing to pay a much higher price for foreign raspberries, will he not agree to reconsider the matter?
I can assure the Deputy his information is not correct there. The import of foreign raspberries or fruit pulp is strictly prohibited until the domestic crop has passed into consumption. As to the price of Swedish pulp, I am not in a position to say because I do not know, but I cannot imagine that any rational jam manufacturer would buy pulp in Sweden at, say, £100 per ton when he could buy it in Great Britain at £77 10s. The Deputy can rest assured, however, that the practice has always been to allow the domestic soft fruit crop to pass into consumption before any fruit pulp is admitted from any quarter.