Modified-Atmosphere Packaging Give t COLLEGE PARK. MB. ■ itional Agriculture Week, arch 13-20, celebrates the accomplishments of an industry that has weathered droughts, freezes, increasing regulation and changing tastes to remain one oF Aitierica's largest and most suc cessful industries. The week-long event also presents an opportunity to focus on the trends that wilT determine the future course of American agriculture. One of those trends involves a desire for fresh produce. Consum ers are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables than ever before and are even choosing their super markets based on the quality of the produce. “Consumers want fresher, less processed food,” says Dr. Donald Schlimme, associate professor of horticulture at the University of Maryland College Park. “And they want it year ’round. ■“These demands influence not Patz Model 8700 Shuttle Feeder E Direct drive induces maintenance and Increases reliability 16-Inch belt plus covet height allows more capacity B Mounts on feed bunks and Inside barns B Lengths of 40 to 150 feet NEW KIP Keep It Patz • Improves Silo Unloader Performance • Provides big savings Keep your long-life parts and replace the rest of your Patz surface-drive unloader at a new low price. Keep or replace as 988 KIP includes: needed: • Adjustable track frame • ounter we '9 ht • 30-inch drive wheels • Lower transmission , Caster wheete • Drive wheel gear box • glower (less blades) • Power cutter .Blower cap • Gathenng chain • Chute pole assembly • Electric motor • Leveling mechanism • Electrical joint • Assembly hardware • Options , Guards ALEXANDRIA MAX IBENBERG 114-M9-4027 BALLY LONGACRE ELECTRIC 215-645-2261 CAMP HILL JOHN JONES 717-737-5737 ELUOTTSBURG CARL R. BAER 717-512-2541 BAS BARN EQ. |Fm»M BELLEVILLE ULLER-UKE Ine. HAMBURG SHARTLESBURG FARM SERVICG 21MM-1021 717-SBB-23SS only the marketing strategies of food retailers, but also the direc tion of food processing and pack aging research. As per capita con sumption of canned food dwin dles, scientists search for new' ways to provide acceptable, high quality alternatives.” One technology that looks promising is modifled-atmosphere packaging, which extends the storage and distribution life of both raw and prepared products. Dr. Schlimme explains how the process works: “All fruits and vegetables take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. If you can retard the rate of this transfer, or respiration, and the associated metabolic activi ties, you can extend shelf life. “One way of doing this is by cooling the items through refriger ation. which works because the various chemical reactions involved in the aging of fruits and vegetables are temperature • And more SEE TOUR NEAREST PATZ DEALER KINGSLEY POWERS EQUIPMENT 717-434-2012 LEBANON CEDAR CREST EQUPMENT 717-274-5333 ws? DARY EQUIPMENT 717-4M-2CM dependent” Another way of extneding shelf life, he continues, is to limit the amount of available oxygen. This is done by wrapping and sealing the items in plastic film. As they respire, they use up oxygen within the sealed package at a rapid rate; this ultimately retards die respiration'rate until a balance is achieved, with the packaged items using up oxygen at a rate equivalent to that replaced by natural diffusion through the plastic barrier. Together, refrigeration and modified-atmosphere packaging are more effective than either technique used alone. “You must have a partnership of temperature and atmosphere controls,” explains Schlimme. The ideal amount of oxygen inside the plastic seal, he adds, is between 2 and 5 percent. That range appears to offer the greatest benefits in terms of extending the New! High-capacity belt conveying The new Patz® Model 8612 Conveyor uses a 12-inch belt on concave pan sections to convey up to 45 cu. ft. (or up to 1,500 pounds) per minute. • Smooth belt allows multiple plow-offs. • Textured belt conveys up inclines to 30 degrees, depending on material. • Adjustable concave elbow option allows conveying up an incline and leveling off. • Lengths of 4 to 120 feet. • Motor mounts top or bottom. • Central hopper with open ends allows adding feed at several locations. • Optional spout, spout extension, belt wipers, diverter and covers. MILTON NORTH CENTRAL AG AUTOMATION (Fofirwrty LAW Ag) 717-437-2031 QUARRYVILLE wJlcornfArm SERVICE Jamw E. Landli 717-7 M-4150 SOMERSET GROVFeQUIP. SALES Clifford Knapper MwkKmppor •14-4454306 HAGERSTOWN. MD TRMTATE FARM AUTOMATION 301-790-3698 KENNEDYVILLE. MD FINDER SERVICE CO. 301-348-5263 EQUIPMENT 301-374-6618 s New Life To Produce life of fruits and vegetables. P° int: . , Below lor 2 percent oxygen, the . vas majority of tomatoes items tend to deteriorate rapidly. l n eastern U.S. supermarkets du Achieving the proper atmo- mg the winter monthst come from spheric conditions is anything but southern Honda or Mexico and simple. Different fruits and veget- «« shipped great distances. Ripe ables respire at different rates, so tomatoes won t withstand the the plastic film used to seal them rigors of transportation: they 11 be must be selected on an item-by- mus * l by t * ie B et to the item basis. supermarket. Consequently, the The size of the package also tomatoes are picked when they re must be correct because too few or at what’s called the mature green too many items can cause a respi- sta B e of developent. They ship ration imbalance. And, of course, well because they re hard as temperature is always a factor. bullets. Despite the complexities Upon delivery, the tomatoes are involved, Schlimme believes the exposed to ethylene gas, a plant benefits of modified-atmosphere hormone that triggers ripening, packaging justify the lime and They are offered for sale once they effort involved in developing the have achieved a sufficient red technology. color - . , “I really think you’ll see an ® ut a ® V Oll may have noticed, improvement in the quality of t^ at re d isn’t the same true red of many fruits and vegetables over tomatoes that have ripened on the the next decade as a result of vi ne. nnd the taste leaves some modified-atmosphere packaging,” thing to be desired. he says, using tomatoes to illus- So ™ e P®°Pk g 0 . so far as 1 ° call them cardboard tomatoes,” said Schlimme. But modified-atmosphere pack aging can improve the quality of such tomatoes. Left on the vine longer, they develop more flavor but aife still firm enough to hold up during shipping. Proper plastic wrapping and refrigeration retard the already ini tiated ripening process and extend the tomatoes’ high-quality shelf life to a minimum of 21 days while eliminating the need for ethylene gas, according to research conducted by Schlimme and his colleague, Professor Theo phanes Solomos. Modified-atmosphere packag ing also offers greatpotential ben efits for Delmarva farmers who produce sweet com, according to Schlimme. “A lot of farmers sell quite a bit of sweet com at roadside stands during the summer,” he says. “But that’s peanuts compared to what they could make selling minimally processed com to retailers in the Baltimorc-Washinglon corridor.” (By minimally processed, Schlimme means com that has been picked, shucked, desilked, washed, cooled and then packaged in the appropriate plastic film and refrigerated.) Last summer, Schlimme began evaluating several sweet com var ieties as potential candidates for modified atmosphere packaging. The best performer in preliminary studies achieved a satisfactory shelf life of 31 days when properly sealed and stored at a temperature of 34 F. Encouraged by these prelimin ary results, Schlimme will con tinue his corn research this summer. WHTEFORD. MD ENDFELD EQUIP. 301438-0480 POUND. Wl PAT 7 SALES, INC. 414497-2251 Donnii SWbo 717464-2333 Jim Biliki •144444117 Lancaster Farming Saturday, March 18,1989-Dll BARN PAINTING ”1 Latest Developments | 1. PREPARATION • High volume water blasting ( at 1,000 lb. pressure re-surfaoes bam siding . into a smooth (like new) appearance! • a. Performed by professionals quickly at . reasonable cost ■ b. By yourself with your own or rented equipment. . c. Or other more conventional methods. 2. APPLICATION - To insure better adherence to this super prepared surface, use the best fine bristle brush in four directions to evenly distribute the recommended nil thickness of seal coat coverage. 3. 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