Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-21
FREEZING SEEN AID
/. TO Citrus GROWER
New Process of Hauling Fruit
Juice May Meet Mar
keting Problem.
BY J. C. ROYLE.

Citrus fruit growers, who have al
ways dreaded cold and sought locations
below the frost line" may find their
future prosperity predicated on sub
freezing temperatures. Reports to the
Departments of Commerce and Agri-
culture show that millions of gallons
Of citrus fruit juices will be shipped
this year under refrigeration. In addi-
tiony q huge quantity will be frozen
under new and improved processes and
either shipped in that form or stored
until q profitable market for 1t is avail
able.
This has been brought about by a
change In the national appetite, or,
rather, In styles of diet, Influenced by
the desire for health. regarded as one
Of the outstanding influences of the
times. Vitamins are stressed by doctors
and laymen alike as necessary to a
balanced diet. and the fruit juices are
rich in vitamins.
Distribution Was Problem.
The difiiculty in the past for the pro-
Queer was in sending his products to
the proper market and preventing a
| glut in any single center. The preser-
| vaticn Of the juices indefinitely will aid
materially in solving this. Then, too
freight charges are a major item In
distributing expense. The shipment OF
| juices will mean a decided saving In
weight and bulk as compared with SHIP
ment of the fresh fruit.
! At first, 1t is planned, according to
reports to Government departments, TO
ship the fruit to central localities and
| there extract the juices and reshlp
within narrower radius as market needs
arise. Eventually, however, 1t Is ex-
pected by Arthur D. Little, Inc. chem
| lists and engineers, that 25,000.000 GAL
! Ions Of fruit juices will be frozen each
year at the orchards.
The producers hope that present ex-
periments whereby one big milk distrib-
| utor Is to distribute orange juice TO
I'd. 900 customers a day will be success
| full and that this will make other dairy
routes available for juice distribution
| The problem is to put into the hands
| of the householder product having the
! flavor. aroma, vitamin content and ap-
| pearance of freshly squeezed juice at
| price which will yield profit to the
producer It is estimated that ton
/ of oranges makes about go gallons OF
clear juice. When shipped as liquid
! it must be transported in tank cars
glass lined and kept below 80 degrees
so that fermentation shall not set In
or vitamin c be destroyed. 1t must be
kept as free from air as possible.
Process Of Freezing.
The freezing process so far developed
according to Arthur D. Little, consists
of extraction of the juice by burning
the half fruit or pressing whole peeled
oranges. After screening, tire juice Is
chilled to about 80 degrees. It Is then
| put into waxed paper and frozen hard
In distribution 1t must not be allowed
| to thaw until used.
In order to retain flavor it Is neces-
sary that all equipment shall be Of acid
resisting power to avoid chemical &C
ton, oxydation, dessication or liquifica-
| ton of cells. Vitamin c is not affected
| by freezing but is attacked by oxygen
| The waste material, it is expected, can
| be disposed of in the form Of pecttn
| orange oil and fertilizer.
| The shipment of juice will render un'
necessary the picking of oranges in &
green state in order to allow them u
| ripen in transit and will make available
| for use fruit which is sound and good
| but off grade in size and appearance
| The fruit juices. according to the Fed.
eral departments, are expected to enter
| into competition with synthetic favor
| ing extracts.
| Experiments also are going forward
| in preservation by other processes such
! as vacuum concentration and other
/ means of sterilization.
| (Copyright, 1879