On This Day, 28 January 1916

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Friday 28th January 1916

THE FRUIT TRADE
HOW BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC WILL BE AFFECTED

One of the largest fruiterers in Birmingham in an interview with “Gazette” representative last night, said that he did not think the non-importation would be felt so much as generally supposed. It was his opinion that those countries which had fruit for sale would use their own boats to convey it here.
Really, these were only the commodities in which the restriction would be greatly felt – American and Canadian apples, Canary tomatoes and bananas, and Valencia oranges – and the trade in these commodities was now nearly over for this season.
It all depended on how soon the Government took action, and for himself, he did not care what they did so long as they won the war.
The question of home produce and its price was one on which it was absolutely impossible to hazard an opinion. If the home crops were good, he saw no reason why prices should go beyond what they already are; if the home crop were bad – the prices would rise.