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Under an early-spring sky, on the rich flatlands of Manutuke, Mr and Mrs G. A. Haskin harvest their golden crop of Washington Navel oranges from trees weighed down with fruit. This Scene is typical of an industry which is expected, in the years to come, to become an important one for Gisborne. In the words of the Agriculture Department's horticultural instructor at Gisborne, Mr R. Viney, there is no reason why this part of the country should not become the largest producer of sweet oranges in New Zealand. Already it is well on the way to this goal. Over the last four years, each year has seen an additional 15 acres of plantings, or 1500 new trees per year. It is likely that already more citrus fruit is harvested here than the combined harvest of apple, pear and stone fruits.
Gisborne, it seems, has the right kind of soil and the right kind of climate for successful citrus fruit growing. what the industry needs now is the capital necessary to put aside and plant valuable land, for often the grower gets no worthwhile return for up to ten years. What it also needs is the skilled advice of experts, working on the district's own research plots, to determine which species are most suitable for the district, and what are the best cultivation practices. Such a test area has been proposed for many years, but so far has not come to fruition.

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Another picture taken in the Haskin grove, showing the type of gear used for the harvesting of fruit.

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This year the Agriculture Department at Gisborne has instituted a further service for growers. In cases where a grower is not sure if his fruit is ready for picking he may send a sample of six oranges to the department. A test is then made by Mr Viney, which indicates the sugar-content of the fruit. Here Mr Viney is seen making a test.

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Two Gisborne girls framed by the fruit and leaves of an orange tree.

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At Gisborne Markets cool store, oranges are graded and packed for distribution throughout North Island. Here Mr Trevor Bell, who is in charge of the citrus section at Gisborne Markets, is seen sorting fruit at the intake end of the grading machine.

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Machine sorts oranges by weight, after which each fruit is tissue-wrapped and boxed. Here Mr Bell and Mr Clarrie Brown, horticultural instructor at Hastings, who has been assisting temporarily at Gisborne, are seen at this operation.

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Mr Brown inspecting a line of fancy grade oranges packed ready for distribution. Most local fruit goes to markets in the central North Island region and the East Coast.

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Try one and see. This is the more familiar, and equally important test for sweetness of Gisborne oranges. Here Val Torrie, who types all this material for "Photo News", turns model to show just how good the local fruit is. Lots of other people in New Zealand agree with her-they're good!