Bi4-umcaster farming, Saturday, January % ««>
Gardeners can get a head start
on next spring by doing some work
this December. Penn State Ex
tension horticulturalist, Robert
Nuss offers the following advice.
The garden site itself needs some
attention to prevent or reduce any
possible damage to the soil.
The heavy rain has increased
soil erosion recently, and erosion
can take a great deal of a gar
dener’s valuable growing medium.
Wind erosion is another
possibility later in the season when
the soil is frozen. As the soil’s top
layer dries out, the binding quality
of its water disappears. The topsoil
layer can disappear in a winter
breeze.
But a cover crop would be an
effective way to prevent erosion,
Nuss says. Since it’s too late to
plant a crop,' the next best ap
proach would be the application of
a coarse organic matter. Use a thin
layer of straw, oak leaves,
weathered sawdust, wood chips or
shredded bark on the surface. Next
spring, the organic matter can be
incorporated into the soil to im
prove texture and overall quality.
Fish loses texture, quality in freezer
ITHACA, NY. Wrapping a
piece of fish and freezing it solid is
no guarantee that it will smell and
taste fresh when you thaw it and
cook it, a Cornell University food
scientist says.
In fact, the taste and quality of
most frozen fish will deteriorate in
the supermarket freezer before
you buy them, says Joe M.
Regenstein, an associate professor
of food science in the New York
State College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences at Cornell.
“People treat frozen fish as any
other frozen product,” he says.
“That’s wrong, because frozen fish
is such a perishable product.”
Regenstein and his colleague,
Glenna J. Ryan, a Cornell
Cooperative Extension associate
and nutritionist, have been
working with frozen fish packers
on ways to use minced fish, a by
product from the industry’s
filleting process. From their
research on the fillet by-products,
Regenstein and Ryan have become
more aware that the quality of
regular frozen fish-whether it be
in fillet or fish stick
form-deteriorates in freezers.
“Most people think that freezing
halts deterioration,” Regenstein
says. “However, in fish, the
process of deteriorating quality
during frozen storage goes on at a
measurable rate.”
Freezers in warehouses, trucks,
supermarkets, and homes keep the
fish from spoiling, but they are not
cold enough to preserve the texture
and taste of fish.
“Fish don’t spoil from the health
aspect in properly working
freezers, but their quality
deteriorates,” Regenstein says.
Three major causes of
deteriorated flavor and texture in
frozen fish and other frozen
products are ice crystal formation,
freezer bum, and rancidity, he
explains. Ice crystals, which form
durir<" freezing, disturb the celf ,
st r u .ore in the frozen food,'
Gardeners with access to
manure can also use this medium
on the surface over winter. Some
nutrient loss will result from
weathering, but the organic matter
will still help the soil in spring.
Now’s a good time to make one
last check in the tool shed to make
certain all the tools and garden
equipment have been cleaned and
properly stored for the winter. A
few minutes now will make next
spring’s work easier.
Sprayers need special attention
because liquid sprays may clog
and corrode metal parts.
Dismantle a sprayer and rinse it
well with hot, clean water or an
ammonia solution. Hang it upside
down until it is completely dry. Put
the parts together loosely and store
the complete unit in a dry place.
Make certain there is no water in
the spray hose that might freeze in
cold weather.
'Hand tools tend to retain some
soil after use. This soil can absorb
moisture from the air and cause
the metal surface below to rust
over the winter months. Clean all
soil from these items before put-
resulting in increased moisture
loss during thawing.
Freezer bum is a loss of
moisture during freezing,
primarily through evaporation
from improperly wrapped
products. Rancidity is a chemical
reaction that results in unpleasant
odors and tastes.
Many types of popular frozen
commercial fish undergo yet
another type of change as the
result of an enzymatic reaction,
Regenstein says. That enzymatic
reaction, which occurs most
commonly cod, haddock, hake,
whiting, cusk, and pollack,
changes the texture of the fish
from moist and smooth to dry and
fibrous. Such reactions occur at
temperatures above minus 22°F.
Since most freezers operate at
temperatures ranging from zero to
minus 10 degrees, frozen fish must
be treated as a perishable item,
Regenstein says. Fish simply will
not keep in freezers for extended
periods, as will red meats, poultry,
or vegetables.
Unfortunately, Regenstein says,
much of the frozen fish available
on the market has already been
frozen for some time. Frozen fish
is sometimes held in these “less
than ideal” freezer conditions for
more than a year before being
released to the market. The fish
packing industry does this to ad
just the supply and the market
ting them away. In fact, it is a good
idea to keep them clean all during
the gardening season. Once the
metal surfaces are clean and dry,
sharpen any cutting edges so they
are ready for use next year. Before
storage, rub a coating of wax on
the metal to prevent rusting.
Garden hoses may already be
disconnected and coiled for
storage, so make certain no water
is trapped inside the hoses.
Freezing water can expand and
rupture a hose in storage.
You should also service your
power equipment before storage.
Wash items thoroughly to remove
oil, grease, soil and clippings. Run
the engine a few minutes to heat
the parts for faster drying. Drain
the fuel tank by removing the fuel
line from the carburetor con
nection. Once the tank has emp
tied, start the engine and run it
until the lines are clear of fuel.
The cylinder should also be
lubricated by removing the spark
plug and placing a teaspoon of
clean oil into the plug opening.
Cover the hole and pull the starter
cord slowly several times. If it’s an
electric starter, turn the engine
over a few times. Replace the
spark plug tightly to prevent dirt
from entering the engine.
Winter is a good time to clean the
air filter, change the oil and
lubricate all the moving parts in
power equipment. The bearings
should be greased on small garden
tractors. Any unpainted metal
parts should be lightly coated with
a film of oil to prevent rust.
Power equipment should also be
stored in a dry area, Nuss adds. “I
have seen small tractors and
lawnmowers made useless when
mice built winter nests in the small
recesses of the engine and cooling
systems,” he says. “This equip
ment may not start in the spring. If
it does, it may overheat and bum
out because of improper cooling.”
prices,
“We have a very fine food
distribution system in America,”
Regenstein explains. “However, it
was designed for other products,
such as red meat or vegetables.
Unfortunately, frozen fish falls in
the cracks.”
Some types of fish last longer
than others in frozen storage. For
example, fatty fish, such as
herring, mackerel, salmon, and
trout should be stored in freezers
for only about three months.
Leaner fish, such as cod, haddock,
flounder, and red snapper, can be
stored for as long as six months.
The flavor and texture of all
types of fish would be better
preserved if the fish were stored at
colder temperatures, below minus
22°F.
“So the answer for now is
beating the clock,” Regenstein
advises. “The sooner you use
frozen fish, the better the quality.”
Regenstein hopes that the food
storage and distribution network in
the United States catches on to
these facts and provides colder
storage for frozen fish.
In the meantime, Regenstein
advises that consumers use their
frozen fish quickly.
“The bottom line is that people
should be able to get a better
product by not leaving it around in
the freezer for too long,” he says.
MAD
LANCASTER
FARMING
FOR COMPLETE
AND
UP-TO-DATE
MARKET
REPORTS
See your nearest
HOLLAND
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and Dependable
Service:
Annville, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc
RD 1
717-867 2211
Beavertown, PA
B&R Farm
Equipment, Inc
RD 1, Box 217 A
717-658-7024
Belleville, PA
IvanJ Zook
Farm Equipment
Belleville, Pa
717-935-2948
Carlisle, PA
PaulShovers, Inc
35 East Willow Street
717 243-2686
Chambersburg, PA
Clugston
Implement, Inc
RD 1
717 263 4103
Davidsburg, PA
George N Gross, Inc
R D 2, Dover, PA
717 292 1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc
Rt 283-Rheem's Exit
717 367 1319
Everett, PA
C Paul Ford & Son
RD 1
814-652-2051
Gettysburg, PA
Yinglmg Implements
RD 9
717 359-4848
Greencastle, PA
Meyers
Implement's Inc
400 N Antrim Way
P 0 Box 97
717 597 2176
Grove City, PA
McDowell Farm
Implement Co
Rt 173 North
814 786 7955
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros
R D 3 Box 13
717 896-3414
Hamburg, PA
Shartlesville
Farm Service
R D 1 Box 1392
215-488-1025
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co
East Mam Street
215-273-3131
215 273 3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D Clark
& Son, Inc
Honey Grove, PA
717 734 3682
Hughesville, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies. Inc
103 Cemetery Street
717 584-2106
Lancaster, PA
L H Brubaker Inc
350 Strasburg Pike
717 397 5179
Lebanon, PA
Ke ter Bros
Tractor Co
R D 7, Box 405
717 949-6501
Lititz, PA
Roy A Brubaker
700 Woodcrest Ave
717 626 7766
Loysville, PA
PaulShovers Inc
Loysville, PA
717 789 3117
Lynnport, PA
KermitK Kistler, Inc
Lynnport, PA
215 298 2011
Martinsburg, PA
Forshey's, Inc
110 Forshey St
814 793 3791
Mill Hall. PA
Paul A Dotterer
RD 1
717 726 3471
New Holland, PA
A.BC Groff, Inc
110 South Railroad
717 354-4191
New Park, PA
M&R Equipment Inc
P 0 Box 16
717-993 2511
Oley, PA
C J Wonsidler Bros
R D 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Marlin W Schreffler
Pitman, PA
717 648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C J Wonsidler Bros
RD 1
215 536 1935
Quarryville, PA
C E Wiley & Son, Inc
101 South Lime Street
717 786-2895
Rmgtown, PA
Rmgtown Farm
Equipment
Rmgtown, PA
717 889 3184
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S Snyder, Inc
R D 3
717 386-5954
West Chester, PA
M S Yearsley & Son
114 116 East
Market Street •
215 696-2990
West Grove. PA
SG Lewis & Son Inc
R D 2, Box 66
215 869-2214
Churchville, MD
Walter G Coale Inc
2849 53
Churchville Rd
301 734-7722
Washington, NJ
Frank Rymon & Sons
201 689 1464
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609 769-0308