The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-19
BANANAS
IN DEMAND
How Hawaii Might
Gain Coast
Market.
HARDY VARIETIES
AND LARGE CROP
Central American Fruit Sent Six
Thousand Miles TO This
Market.

thousand miles to be offered for sale
in the local markets, raises questions
which are full of interest in the minds
the trade in the past. Especially is this
the case with D. G.. Camarinos, who
while in the fruit commission business
in San Francisco many years ago, be-
markets of the same goods which now
find their way here. Speaking of the
conditions which seem to permit this
shipment and at least give the bana-
mas of the South free entry into Coast
cities, Mr.. Camarinos said yesterday
THE so-called New Orleans bananas
which have been offered for sale recent
ly here are in fact from Nicaragua
The greatest shipping point in the
world for bananas is Bluefields From
that city and Port Limon steamers built
for the trade alone, run almost daily
to New Orleans and Mobile, carrying
their tens of thousands of punches of
bananas. The trade has become an i'm
mense one, owing to the fact that the
bananas which are brought to America
by that route are distributed all over
the country. The best ones secure their
market in the East, the middle west
taking what can be sent to them
When l began to ship bananas from
New Orleans to San Francisco and to
distribute them from that point along
the Coast, they made an impression on
| the trade at once. owing to the fact
principally that they are hardy fruit
and stand shipping where the delicate
Chinese banana. so-called, which is
neys. 1 have been interested in the
growing of bananas here and would like
| to see some plans made for the develop
ment of a trade which would be of the
utmost advantage to the Territory.
LAS a prerequisite should say that
| it is necessary that there be brought
here the plants of the Central American
banana. This is a larger fruit and one
with thicker skin. Where it is neces-
sary that the local product must be
wrapped in leaves to insure its keep
| ing along the road, the Southern ba-
mana may be shipped without covering,
and it will not bruise and blacken. This
means too that the fruit will keep for
a long time. The fact that the bana-
mas which come here have travelled
| four or five days in the steamer which
| took them from Bluefelds, then as long
or longer in the trains from New Or
| leans to San Francisco, and a week
more to reach here, is proof of their
| lasting qualities. If such banana plants
are brought here the result would be
that the local fruit could be shipped for
just as long distances.
1.-The Pacific Coast is now consuming
from 100000 to 100000 punches of ba-
nanas a year. Ali of this trade might
well belong to Hawaii if it was develop
ed with care. In fact with good ship
been speaking, there should be no trou-
BILE in getting into the markets of the
West as far perhaps as Denver. The
result would be extremely profitable in
my opinion. There should be first the
plants secured, then the market should
be organized so that there would be
no chance of losing it. 1 have figured
that the Southern banana would pro-
duce from 600 to 1000 punches of ba-
nanas to the acre. If the price of these
was put at forty cents a bunch, the
profit to the grower would be excellent.
The freight to San Francisco would be
another forty cents and twenty cents
might be added for commissions and
other expenses. This would mean ba-
nanas in the San Francisco market at
s10O bunch. At that price the con-
sumption would be greatly increased
and the market would be sure.
The price Of the bananas which are
now consumed in the Coast market is
from s1.50 to $500 a bunch, and you can
see that with rates so much less there
would be a great increase in the de-
mand for the fruit. The freight alone
on the Bluefields bananas is nfty-five
cents from New Orleans to San Fran
cisco, and there could be no cumpeIi-
ton. This trade would offer great ad-
vantages to the small farmer, who
/ might easily grow large quantities OF
| the bananas and with increased freight
| facilities there would be no reason tc
| fear that the bananas would not arrive
| at the market in good shape. The frs
thing is the hardy fruit, then sufficient
acreage to insure good crops AMI the
! market is waiting for the goods"