The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-06-12
COLD PACKING STRAW
BERRIES
Delaware Strawberries High Be-

The Dover Index reports straw
berries are moving out OF Delaware
daily by the thousands of crates and
by the tons in cold pack barrels.
Whether this season results as pro-
fitably to the growers as last year
depends largely upon the weather
of the next few days. II it showers
gently, late berries may come on in
stronger volume and help make up
the losses which growers are facing
now with the adverse, cold, dry
spell that prevailed for several
weeks.
A survey of lower Delaware in
the heart of the strawberry sections
at Bridgeville and Selbyville, in
dictates that but about half the crop
of berries that was expected will be
marketed. But every cloud has its
silver lining and this year it's the
price.
The market has kept up steadily
and strongly and conservative
estimate made by a grower was that
prices generally have been two
dollars crate in advance OF those
received last year. So that, while
the crop may not be as large by So
per cent as last year, the added price
will help many.raisers to realize on
this loss.
AS was predicted the packing OF
strawberries in barrels in the cold
pack method is becoming big in
dustry in Delaware. Eventually and
in seasons when prices are low it
may prove the salvation OF straw
berry growers. At Selbyville and
Millsboro, former Governor John e.
Townsend operates large cold pack
establishments and will pack 1000
to 1900 barrels.
Dover is another center that this
year has developed a tremendous
cold pack business. At the plant of
w. D. Ross Company, from one to
three hundred persons are employed
Gaping" strawberries. That is
picking off the feathers or caps.
The cold pack business is proving
profitable job for them, as an in
dustrious worker may cap two to
three hundred of the small boxes
daily and at the price Of two cents a
box, the returns for their labor
range from SO to Sc daily.
These berries so far have come
from Virginia in refrigator cars and
are smaller than most of the Della
ware Strawberries picked this year.
But they are just as good as the
large ones for the cold pack.
AS fast as the berries are capped
thdy are packed away in barrels,
layer of berries and layer OF
granulated sugar. The barrels are
new and air tight and as soon as
they are filled are stored in a cold
storage until trucks arrive to carry
them to Philadelphia where they are
Immediately placed in cold storage.
There they hemain until sold to con-
Germs that during the snow and ice
of next winter will use them to make
strawberry ice cream and serve on
sundaes at soda water fountains.
According to those who make a
business of cold packing Strawberries
the berries keep splendidly if retain
ed in cold storage. They have the
same flavor and freshness when the
barrels are opened as though they
had just been picked and sugared
down. A peculiar feature is that if
there is any sand or grit in the fruit
when it is packed in the barrels, the
sand gradually works it's way to the
bottom of the barrel because it is
heavier than either the fruit or
juice. And for the same reason if
any of the Strawberries have been
carelessly capped and some of the
feathers" remain about the berries,
these gradually work themselves to
the top of the barrel. So, that when
the barrel is opened the refuse tops
can be scooped off and the sand il
any about the berries remains at the
bottom.
Each packer of cold pack straw
berries has his own particularly
recipe and if any one asks about the
method and formula, he receives as
much encouragement as a publicly
advertised gold brick swindler
Each recipe is carefully guarded and
only trusted employees are let into
the secret. But the general plan is
the same, which is air-tight new
barrels, granulated sugar and fruit.
Brown sugar has been tried but
doesn't do.
Necessary sanitary condi n
about the cold pack plants are re-
quirements which state officials look
after in the regular course of their
duties and the public is thus in
sured clean fruit.