Milford chronicle., 1928-11-23
GRADE TOMATO
CROP In STATE
[COntinped from fra pagel

4 the value of the wagon load.
Up to this time, it has been the
custom of the packer, to have as
many as a score of persons engaged
in sorting tomatoes. When the to-
matoes were taken from the baskets,
these sorters separated the first
class tomatoes and also threw away
those that were too green or unfit
to pack. Under the new plan of in
spection, the Gamers will endeavor
to have the farmer instruct his pick
ers not to pick green tomatoes or
OVer-ripe ones. In this way nothing
but the best tomatoes of two grades
will be forwarded to the cannery.
Naturally, the pickers will expect
more money and difficulty is antici-
pated at the start in learning the
pickers to pick only those tomatoes
that are fit for canning at the time.
This same difficulty was expert
enced when Orchardists instructed
their apple pickers to pick only the
fruit that was fit for shipment at
the time. 1t was several years be-
fore the pickers realized the benefit
of this instruction and were aided
very materially by receiving a high
er price for doing as the orchardists
directed. This same policy in edu-
eating the tomato picker will prob
ably be followed out with regard to
tomatoes.
1t has been customary in Della
ware to pay about fifteen dollars a
ton for tomatoes as they run. That is,
choice tomatoes and the second
quality goods. From expressions
made by some of the big Gamers, it
is believed they would be willing to
pay twenty dollars, twenty-five dol
lars and one man has said he would
be willing to pay thirty dollars a
ton for U. S. No. 1 tomatoes. With
this increased price, it is believed
the farmers will be encouraged to
raise better tomatoes.
Up to this time there has been no
from the Delaware far,
ner to attempt to sort or Gull his to-
natOes because they were accepted
1t the cannery no matter whether
hey were large or small, cracked or 1
bruised and he received twenty-five (
.ents basket. The inspection dur [
ng the past summer showed that
Delaware farmers are just as clever {
as are the farmers
f other states and that DelawareiJ j
oil can produce just as fancy U. S. g
10. tomatoes as any other state. c
1t is the color, according to w. T. l
director of the Bureau of
Tarkets, that largely determines the
rade of the tomato. If they are red
nd without cracks and blemishes,
ley are eligible as U. S. No. 1 to-
latoes. When the top of the toma-
} is partly green the tomatoes are
sually classed as No. 2 tomatoes. a
there the tomatoes are spotted or O
racked and it is necessary to cut e
way one third of them, they are f
ill of service as a canning product tt
ut not as good as U. S. No. 1 or U. h
No. 2. a
Canning of inspected tomatoes s
as carried on in New York state c
Id in some of the middle western fl
ates last summer and these Com n
are preparing to con- k
nue. the inspection. The Gamers of b
wer Delaware who are agitating O.
is modern method in tomato can 9
ng are anxious to have the Della Il
are product on as high plane as fC
matoes packed in any other state. g
lese Gamers have sought confer
ICES with director Derickson and it q,
believed there will be many meet c,
gs during the winter between the bI
nner and the grower in order to b,
ach a successful elimination of es
is project. gl