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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
and
FLORIDA CITRUS COMMISSION

HUME LIBRARY

? MAR 6 1969

SI.F.A.S. Univ. of Florida


Packinghouse


Newsletter











Harvesting and Handling Section
University of Florida
Citrus Experiment Station
P.O. Box 1088
Lake Alfred, Florida, 33850
(Complimentary to members of the Florida Fresh Citrus Shippers Association.
Others wishing to receive this newsletter, send a dozen stamped preaddressed
envelopes to the above address.).


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Citrus Station Mimeo Report CES 69-23
March 7, 1969
650-WG-Lake Alfred, Florida





Citrus Station Mimeo Report CES 69-23
March 7, 1969
650-WG-Lake Alfred, Florida 33850

Harvesting and Handling Section

PACKINGHOUSE NEWSLETTER


NEW POSTHARVEST CITRUS FUNGICIDE


The fungicide TBZ (thiabendazole) has been cleared for use on citrus fruit
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Federal Register 34(29): 2021, February
12, 1969. This petition was filed by Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories,
a division of Merck and Co. The established residue tolerance is 2 ppm in or on
citrus fruit and 8 ppm in or on dried citrus pulp from postharvest application
of this fungicide to citrus fruit. It is understood that applications have been
made in citrus importing countries for approval of this fungicide as a residue
on citrus fruit.

A research paper on this fungicide was listed in Newsletter No. 18:
"Thiabendazole, an Experimental Fungicide for Fresh Citrus Fruit," 1967.
A. A. McCornack and G. Eldon Brown. Proc. Fla. Hort. Soc. 80: 232-237. A
limited number of copies are available. As more information becomes available
regarding this fungicide, it will be sent to you in this newsletter.

A. A. McCornack
Horticulturist
Florida Citrus Commission

CARIBFLY FUMIGATION

From April 1, 1969 to September 1, 1969 citrus shipped to California, Arizona,
and Texas must be fumigated with ethylene dibromide (EDB). This matter is entirely
under the control of the Florida Division of Plant Industry. For anyone interested
in the research aspects, we can send a Xerox of a scientific paper on our past re-
search on EDB dosages, permeability of paints, etc.* However, it is the Division
of Plant Industry that rules on all matters of procedures necessary to satisfy
fumigation certification requirements.

Information regarding fumigation requirements and facilities may be obtained
from any of the DPI offices listed as follows: North Florida J. K. Condo,
Gainesville, Area Code 904 372-3505; W. Central Florida L. B. Hill, Largo,
Area Code 813 584-3596; Southwest Florida J. C. Denmark, Winter Haven, Area
Code 813 293-3101; E. Central Florida L. W. Holley, Tavares, Area Code 904 -
343-3461; Southeast Florida S. E. Simpson, Miami, Area Code 305 235-7531;
Indian River E. W. Campbell, Ft. Pierce, Area Code 305 464-5828.

PROPOSED NEW SANITATION LAW

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a revision of Section
402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act relating to sanitation
requirements of food packing and processing plants (Federal Register 32:17980,
15 Dec. 1967). The proposed new regulation has now been promulgated. We have
studied this and discussed its implications with the staff of the Produce

*"Fumigation of Florida Citrus Fruit with Ethylene Dibromide," W. Grierson and
F. W. Hayward, Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 73: 267-277, 1959.






March 7, 1969


Packaging and Marketing Association. The new law will certainly apply to all
citrus canning plants, but not (in our judgment) to typical fresh fruit packing-
houses. An exception would be any plant that included a chilled salad line or
any other processing in which the fruit is peeled or sectioned. The P.P.M.A.
has supplied us with some extra copies of the proposed new law to mail out on
request.

We are not currently being regulated in this regard, but we are being
watched. With regard to fresh fruit packing plants, the FDA proposal states:
"The Commissioner believes that if necessary special regulations should be de-
veloped for operations in this category." Inadequate washroom facilities for
packinghouse workers are particularly likely to precipitate further Federal
regulation.

PACKINGHOUSE AUTOMATION PROGRAM

Plans are currently being made to test run a Bodolay fully automatic
bagging machine for the Florida Fresh Citrus Shippers Association in the Citrus
Experiment Station Packinghouse on the morning of Wednesday, March 12. This
will be an open meeting.

This date should not be considered final without confirmation from the
office of the Florida Fresh Citrus Shippers Association.


HOW TO HELP THE CALIFORNIA CITRUS INDUSTRY

Research workers all over the country, indeed all over the world, are
constantly in touch with each other. A recent letter from a University of
California marketing technologist mentioned the 'Sunrise' tangelo thus:
"...these were indeed bitter. I would encourage your shippers to continue
shipping them. This will help our citrus industry." (The underlining is mine.)


Bill Grierson, Horticulturist
University of Florida


No. 21