Marketing apples and pears presents special problems. They are highly perishable; production is about twice what can be sold in New Zealand. There are many different kinds of fruit ripening at different times and used for different purposes. Apples must be stored if they are to be available for most of the year. This is clearly an industry for which rationalised marketing is essential. The Fruit Export Control Board was set up at the same time as the Meat and Dairy Boards. It worked through the Fruitgrowers' Federation and was successful in export marketing. Its powers, however, were limited.

Apples as a food did not have a high shipping priority in the Second World War, and in 1946 the industry was in a rather critical condition. The Department of Agriculture carried out an extensive cost survey, following which the Government established a guaranteed price scheme for pip fruit. This is administered by an Apple and Pear Marketing Board, which has wide powers to requisition and sell apples and pears locally and to export. The price to the grower is based on cost of production. There is no doubt that the Board has been very successful. Its success depends, however, on fluctuating overseas markets. It has built up reserve funds, most of which have gone to build cool stores to provide for more orderly marketing.

There are some other commodities, mainly by-products of the livestock industries, for which there is no form of guaranteed price and no, or only limited marketing control. Although the New Zealand Dairy Production and Marketing Board organises the export of most processed milk products, the guaranteed price scheme does not apply. By-products of the meat industry, such as hides and skins, tallow, and sausage casings, are all sold by public treaty.