16—Lancaster Farming, Friday, April 4, 1958
Electronic Gadgets May Soon Help
Processing Tomato Inspectors
By John N. Yeatman and Arthur P. Sidwell
Most of us have about as much trouble judging a tomato
b\ the looks of its skin as we do a book by its cover.
Sometimes Federal-State inspectors have the same
problem. They giade tomatoes used for processing .by
judging outside color and defects. In doubtful cases, they
cut the tomtoes m half and check the color of the flesh.
But this inspection is entirely subjective.
Scientists in the Marketing Re- No. 2, or culls. These three sep
ssarch Division of the Agncul- arations are based on a combi
tural Marketing Service are in- nation of color and freedom
\estigating possible wajs to de- from defects.
velop more objective grading. Any addit i ona l subdivisions on
Already, they've found it is pos- th ebasis of color a10n . 3 are un
able to evaluate tomato p rac t lc al, if not impossible The
hy objective color analyses com- new photoelectric ‘instruments,
hvned with a sabjectn e estimate however, would make color sub
ot defects divisions more feasible.
Since color is one of the most
important factors indicating the It may also be possible, through
duality of tomatoes, researchers current research, to establish new
first concentiated their attention procedures for evaluating the ex
cn this aspect of inspection They I tent of defects. At present, in
used photoelectric instruments discolored growth cracks, shrive
to objectively measure the color spectors also base their grades on
of raw tomatoes i»ng, molds, decay, sunburn sun-
Five of these instruments were scald, freezing, and so forth
tested under field conditions
A more objective analysis could
They measured small differences be made by considering defects
lr. the color of the skin flesh as a single factor and then com
eed raw juice From these tests, bmmg this with a value tor col
researchers found that raw to- or This could be done by select-
matojuice offered the most prom
ising method of objectively eval
uating tomato color
Under the present inspection
system, inspectors place toma!
toes for manufacture of strained
tomato products in either of
tnree grades—U.S. No. 1, U.S I
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Healthy Chicks Make Great Layers!
How Much Will You Get
For A Case Of Eggs This Fall?
A case of Bessie Grade AA large eggs may bring you
a-> much as $6 a case more than ordinary medium eggs.
THAT’S TOP INCOME. It costs you no more to produce
Bessie eggs—but they will surely bring you greater profits
A recent survey of egg stations shows that Bessie eggs
a”e grading 92-95 c r AA and A la»ge. Eggs like these will
a'sure you of top returns.
Bessies are bred to give you high production of these
quality eggs The\ have consistently proven that they
can maintain that production for 14-15 months.
We would like very much for you to have Bessies too
Place your order uith us today.
BABCOCK HATCHERY
Lancaster County Branch
Route 3F. Lititz, Pa. Phone MAdison 6-5872
Russell Mease
Route 4
Manheim, Pa
Phone MO-5-4705
mg samples from the load and
removing the defects Sub-sam
pies could then be selected and
the juice extracted, blended, and
measured on the instruments. The
color value, combined with the
percent of defects, would deter
mine the quality of the load.
Bob Decker
R. D. #1
Milford, New Jersey
Phone Milford 4-4909
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GRADING OF TOMATOES may soon be ors by the photometer. This is in addition
done with machines like this. The juice is to the usual exterior quality inspection giv
extracted and compared with standard col- en the vegetable. (USDA Photo)
AMS researchers are also study
ing methods of sampling They’ve
looked into expected sampling er
rors with variations in the num
ber of hampers selected from the
loads and m the number of to
matoes selected from the hamp-
ers.
This rather extensive research
into all phases of color and de
fect analysis has demonstrated
that a new inspection procedure
is possible. Some day such a meth
od may supplement or replace the
present grading procedure.
A more detailed account of the
AMS work on objective tomato
grading wil be published this
spring in a marketing research
report entitled “Judging Quality
oi Tomatoes for Processing by Ob
jective Color Evaluation with Sub
jective Estimation of Defects "
Farm Calendar
April 7
Eastern States membership
meeting 7.45 p.m at Pequea
Valley High School
April 7
4-H County Council 7 30 p.m
at the home of Donna Heckendon,
Marietta Pike, Lancaster.
New Holland Community 4-H
Club 7 3 p m. at Bank Building.
April 8
Part-time farming committee —
Bpm at Production Credit
Bldg, Roseville Rd, Lancaster
Emory Brown, economist from
PSU, will summeme questioners
Elizabethtown - Donegal 4-H
Club 7 3 p m at Flonn School
April 8
Eastern States Membership
meeting 7 45 p m at Elizabeth
town Mill Road Elementary
School.
Apiil 9
4 H Guernsey Club 7 30 p.m
at SPABC, Lancaster.
April 9
Miss Lynn Bracken of PSU will
meet with the Elizabethtown
Flower Club to discus culture of
annual and penennuals 1 30 p.
m at Recreation Room, Elizabeth
town Bank.
April 10
Lancaster County Bankers
A.ssn Banquet 6pm at Hotel
Biunswick, Lancaster.
April 10
Eastern States Membership
meeting 7 30 p m. at Eli Hos
tetlers, Mt Joy.
April 10
Annual Dinner, Lancaster
County Bankers Assn 6 pm.
at Hotel Brunswick, Lancaster.
Lititz-Manheim 4 H Club—7 30
p m. at Fairland School
April 11
Boots & cuddles 4-H Club
7 30 p.m. at the home of Galen
Sv/eigert, Denver.
Broilers, Friers to Be
On April Plentiful List
The Plentiful Foods Office of
the USDA has announced that the
April list will feature broilers and
fryers.
The other items on the list in
clude canned and frozen peas,
canned and frozen com, milk
and dairy produces and honey.
• Wax'***** ' *
Mushroom Chip Being
Developed by USDA
The development of a mush
room chip is being planned by the
USDA Research Lab in Philadel
phia.
The mushroom chip will be
similar to potato chips, not un
like dhips from a variety of vege
tables.
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