The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-03-04
Fruits for
Distant Markets

conducting some experiments in re
gard to the importance Of careful
picking and handling in preventing
decay in such fruits as cherries and
prunes when sent to distant markets
Hitherto It has not usually beer
found profitable to ship fresh cher
rios and prunes from this region &c
distant markets because Of the un
satisfactory condition in which the
products arrive. These investiga
tions demonstrate that a great part
of the decay can be prevented by
the exercise of proper care, but that
unless care is exercised there is lit
tie hope of 6isposing of the fresh
cherry and prune crop Of this region
in distant markets. The facts
brought out in the investigation are
believed to be applicable also to
other sections OF the country.
The losses which shippers OF cher.
ries and prunes experience are due
chiefly to brown rot and to other fun
gl which gain entrance through abra.
sions in the skin or other injuries
to the fruit. The brown rot must be
controlled by proper orchard prac.
tice. On the other hand, the loss
from those forms OF fungi which do
not attack healthy, sound fruit can
be minimized by careful handling.
In order to demonstrate this fact
the Investigators stored various lots
Of carefully handled fruit and of com.
mercially handled fruit for varying
periods in refrigerator car in
which the conditions were made as
nearly as possible identical with
those under which the fruit would
travel in actual commercial practice.
At the end OF five days in the iced
car, the carefully handled fruit show.
ed an average of only 8 per cent Of
decay, while the commercially han
died fruit showed 2.8 per cent Of de-
cay, or practically six times that
amount. At the end of ten days the
carefully handled fruit had LIS per
cent OF decay and the commercially
handled lots 1873 per cent, Or eight
times as much. Ten days is approx
imately the time required to ship
fruit from the Willamette Valley to
Chicago.
Similar results were obtained from
experiments with prunes, although
with them the percentage Of decay
for both commercially handled and
carefully handled fruit was smaller
than with cherries. 1t Is pointed out
however, that although every effort
was made to have the conditions ap.
proximate those in actual transport
alton, 1t is probable that the fruit
kept better in the iced car used for
these tests than II would in the or
binary refrigerator car in transit
Experiments were also conducted
both with carefully handled and COM
mercially handled fruit to determine
the value of preceding before plac'
ing the fruit in the refrigerator car.
These tests show that preceding Is
undoubtedly of va'ue. Oh the other
hand, 1t can not be relied upon to
prevent losses due to careless han
ding. Injured fruit will decay whe-
ther it is preceded or not, and FOR
this reason preceding is not recon-
mended unless it is preceded by abe
quate care in picking and packing
1t is also painted out that any de-
lay between the picking and the ship.
ping OF fruit hastens decay. The
amount OF damage done in this way
will vary of course, with the weather
conditions, but under any circum'
stances 1t Is considerable.
In view Of these facts 1t is recon-
mended that every precaution should
be taken in picking the fruit not 20
bruise 1t, and that 1t should be trans
ferred as few times as possible from
one container into another. While II
Is being held In the orchard after
picking it should be kept in the
shade and the hauling wagon should
be provided with good springs and
covered with canvas in order to keep
Off sun and dirt. In grading, all dam
aged fruit should be culled out, ahd
MS soon as the shipment has been
packed 1t should be placed in the
refrigerator car.
The extra expense OF careful hand
ling, it is said, will be more than OIL
set by the reduction of losses from
decay and the ability of the fruit to
maintain itself In good condition
while exposed for sale. II these sug
gestions are adopted generally by the
fruit growers and in consequence O
large proportion of the crop market
cd fresh, II is believed that the in