The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-29
PACKING VEGETABLES

In most sections or the South the
loss TO growers of improper pack
ing of produce for shipment is
something enormous. In Florida.
however, where the trucking is OF
comparatively recent origin. the
growers have as a rule adopted mod
ern methods, use standard packages
and the goods generally reach their
destination in a good marketable
condition.
In order 10 economize in weight
and save express charges many who
grow lettuce lose money on account
OF the frail packages in which they
ship. They argue that if the bas-
kets or crates are handled carefully
! they will not break: but fail 10
realize that in order 10 get the stuff
TO market in the quickest time the
transportation companies can not
| handle them carefully.
During the shipping season a
train starting from the southern
! terminus of any of our roads would
be delayed many hours in reaching
| Jacksonville were it not for the
| fact that the crews get the pack
ages on the ears as rapidly as posi-
! BILE, and in the rush ii Is absolutely
impossible 10 handle a basket of let
| tuce with what would seem 10 an
| outsider even Il small degree OF
| care. Then take the stuff after il
reaches Jacksonville. The average
grower can not comprehend the i'm
menSe volume of packages poured
into the transfer sheds here TO be
separated and sent on TO the differ
ent destinations. 4 whole carload
has to be transferred in a very short
| time or else it will be delayed pos
sibly ten or twelve hours, thereby
causing damage to the entire ship
| ment. This means a rush, and more
or less is bound TO be bruised or
| broken.
But damage Of this kind is not al
| ways the cause OF pro luce bringing
| low prices in the markets. Too
often the grower does not exercise
sufficient care in the selection OF
his truck, and in this connection we
copy from an article in the Southern
Fruit Grower. by ". J. Grounds:
My experience in this line has
been largely in the capacity of re
! ceiver. Consequently. / should
rather suggest than dictate.
| In my long experience as receiv-
er, note very little change in meth
DDS OF packing. No package is prop
tains an article in several stages OF
growth or maturity.
Take tomatoes. for instance. The
common practice Is TO put half
grown and ripe in the same package
The cons equence Is, the half grown
never ripen and the ripe ones rot
OF course tomatoes that are put VI
for shipment to distant markets
should not be perfectly ripe. bur
should be at least fully grown.
All spotted and defOrmed stock
should be rejected. The siX-basker
carriers or the Hats make satisfac
tory packages
Lettuce should receive especia
care. II should not be allowed &c
wither. but packed as cut. All de
cayed leaves should he picked OF
and in packing use both hands L
tuck the outer leaves around the
head TO preserve il. Pack in layer:
with a side pressure. Thus packed
il will carry long distances. and
keep fresh and crisp.
"Beets should be packed with ths
beets in center Of barrel instead o
outside. which i the common prac
tice.
"Radishes should be put up same
as beets. as nearly as possible
About 100 punches 20 the hamper
The great error in packing lies
in the fact that the grover will no
resist the temptation 20 put a few
inferior or worthless specimens II
his package. I can not conceive whI
they persist in doing il when j
should be as much 20 the grower 4
Il is 20 the receiver. that a few IL
ferior specimens Will often make :
two dollar package sell for one-ffty
! have paid s. per hamper on ;
shipment OF radishes that could no
be sold for &c
OF course. not all growers are -
careless. but enough are 20 briHs
idiscrust on the whole business.
The time is a. hand when tn
Southern grower 10 be successful
must identity himself with his pro
duce. His name and address on hi
packages should be a guarantee tina
they are properly graded and pack
ed. ii the southern grower cOul'
that our receiving centers and So
how certain marks and packs wer
sought after he would be surprised
1t is not a surplus Of desirable stool
: that gluts our markets az times. Blu
: an accumulation of unmaTEetabl
trash which is a loss 10 the shippe
and a hardship TO the receiver. =
Florida AgriculturiSt