Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-11
Of
PINES TO COAST
ALMOST STOPS

The shipping OF fresh pineapples to
the mainland has practically stopped
during the past few weeks. owing 10
unduiy heavy losses which have been
sustained by the shippers recently. II
was stated by a prominent pineapple
men this morning that the coast deal
ers have refused TO renew their con-
tracts, because Of the difficulty in dis
posing of the large quantities of dam
aged fruit which they had been called
upon to handle. While the business is
expected to revive before long. 1t is
felt that II has had serious setback.
The trouble is largely due, 1t is
claimed, to the fact that none of the
steamships on which the pineappIes
have been shipped, are fitted for car
Iytng fresh fruit TheJ have no sys-
tenn for yentilating the holds where
the perishable products are carried.
and when stormy weather compels the
close battening of hatcses, pineapples
heat and deteriorate very rapidly. The
past two months have been unusually
stormy, and In number of cases the
voyages have been several days longer
than scheduled, which accounts almost
entirely for the havoc wrought in the
pineapples on board. Bananas are also
reported to have been badly damaged
by the same cause.
Development Under Handicap.
The fresh pineapple business from
the islands has been slowly growing
for a number of years. but under Sc
ricus handicap. due principally to in
adequate transportation facilities Dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80,
1913, the value of pineapples thus
shipped was $5S,422. This was an in
crease from s50,136 for 1912; while
the 1911 shipments amounted to $780,
AL That the lack of ventilation is
the prime cause of the difficulties,
seems well established, especially
when Il is realized that successful
shipments of pineapples from Hawaii
have been made to the Atlantic sea-
board, and even to Europe when con-
ditions were favorable.
Until the steamship lines can see
their way clear to provide their yes
sells with adequate fruit compartments
it does not seem likely that the fresh
fruit business of the islands can be
expanded very much. In view of the
fact, however, that this business could
be developed very much
more than It ever has been, it would
seem that IT is not too soon for steps
to be taken looking to such improved
service.
Big Business Possible.
The banana business, although re-
ceiying no attention to speak of, had
Increased over one-third in the past
three years. last year totaling in value
$50, 907. In 1911 the shipments
amounted to $99,917. The value of
the pineapple and banana shipments
combined, averaged last year. almost
ST.. 500 per month.
With the low prices of pines for
canning, growers are anxiously look
ing into the possibilities of fresh fruit
and undoubtedly could
build up very large business in.
very short time, could the transporta-
ton problems be solved. One man
who has been interested in fresh fruit
shipping for some time, stated this
that his company would be.
able to sell practically all of the fruit.
it now produces, could it escape the.
terrific losses in transit. which it now
has to put UP with. He stated that
last month these losses, in the case.
of a number of shipments amounted
to so per cent or more