The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-10

Fresh red raspberries all through the
winter and spring. just as firm and with
Just as delicate flavor as the newly
picked berries in July. This is the latest
triumph of the cold storage warehouses
of Chicago. Red raspberries that were
stored In a Chicago cold storage ware
house last July by d, r. Sicily South
Water street produce merchant. as an
experiment. were taken out last week and
found TO be ia perfect condition for the
most fastidious appetite
1 This experiment marks another great
advance In the development of the mod
/ ern cold storage business, an improve
ment. according 20 James J. Hill, on the
primitive cold storage methods practiced
for centuries by the farmers when they
buried their fruits and vegetables to keep
them over from the period of plenty to
the period OF scarcity in production.
Previous experiments have proved the
possibility of keeping fresh cherries and
strawberries through the winter and
spripg-this part Of the business now
being well established among the South
Water street merchants.
Il has also been proved that fresh to-
matoes may be kept in perfect condition
for two months and fresh peaches for
the same length Of time. Oranges and
lemons are stored for commercial use and
kept in good condition for two months.
Pears Keep Long Time.
The harder varieties OF pears are kept
in cold storage for months without any
IN effects resulting. Potatoes are kept
/ occasionally. There is no difficulty from
the keeping viewpoint but the range of
prices for potatoes is not great enough
20 make their storage a paying PROPOSE
ton Mr. Stefy put eight carloads OF
potatoes in storage in July at the time
OF the freight teamsters' strike because
be could not sell them for enough 10 pay
the freight on them from Michigan; he
took them out Of storage in September in
perfect condition and disposed Of them so
that he suffered no financial loss.
The 700 merchants Of South Water street
DO a business Of about S25o000.000 4 year.
handling probably tw0-thlrds OF the food
Notwithstanding veal but excepting
meats and tour-consumed in Chicago.
So great has been the improvements in
the cold storage methods in recent years
that most Of these dealers predict the
time is not far distant when practically
ali of the perishabie foods. FOR the resi-
dents OF the larger cities especially, will
come through the cold storage ware
houses. The argument 10 support this
prediction is that il viii mean a more
uniform price, a better average quality.
and more certain supply.
Thousands Of barrels Of Apples.
At the present time thousands Of bar
rels OF apples are kept in cold storage
from the season Of plenty 10 the season
OF scarcity; celery is supplied 10 the
tables Of Chicago through practically ali
the year. because it is preserved in the
coolers" for months coming out as
good or better than when IL went in
These are only side issues In the cold
storage business at present The bulk
Of the business stiIl consists Of eggs.
poultry. butter, fish, and meats
The method or preserving delicate
fruits in the cold storage houses prob
ably will surprise most persons who have
the idea that freezing would spoil them.
The red raspberrles, cherries and straw
berries are frozen solid and are stored
in rooms maintained at a steady tenn
perature OF several degrees below freez-
ing When taken from storage they are
spread out and sugared so they can thaw
without MASKING. When thawed they are
ready 10 eat and viii keep in good con-
dition for two or three days.
The furnishing Of fresh berries in the
winter 20 private homes probably will not
become a common occurrence for some
time. because such careful handling is
needed when they are taken from cold
storage. To make Il a commercial pos
sibility would entail the installation by
the retailer OF cold storage refrigerators.
where the berries could be kept without
thawing for some time until sold to the
consumer. This would add some 10 the
cost. but even then the berries could be
supplied to the consumer at lower prices
than are charged for the first fresh win
ter grown berries that are shipped 10
Chicago from the Southlands.
Cherries and Strawberries are, how
ever. stored in great quantities for the
use of hotels and restaurants and ice
cream manufacturers. who are thus en-
ahled To supply really fresh cherry pie
and strawberry short cake and fruit ices
throughout the winter and spring