sletter No. 53 (*-*)
Lake Alfred AREC Research Report-CS73-4
May 29, 1973






Editor: W. F. Wardowski
Harvesting and Handling Section
./- University of Florida
-'Agricultural Research and Education Center
P. O. Box 1088
53T Lake Alfred, Florida 33850







PacL7 AACuc





UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
and
STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF CITRUS


HUME LIBRARY

JUN 20 1973

I.F.A.S. Univ. of Florida r I-


*Anyone wishing to receive this newsletter 040P PA,
may send a dozen stamped, preaddressed Z L
envelopes to the above address. c r-n U --







Newsletter #53 (*-*)
Lake Alfred AREC Research Report-CS73-4
May 29, 1973


Harvesting and Handling Section


PACKINGHOUSE NEWSLETTER


STATUS OF COLOR-ADD

Once again, we have had confusion in the press between Amaranth (FD&C Red No. 2)
and color-add (Citrus Red No. 2), two unrelated dyes. Comments by Dr. Charles Edwards,
Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration were misreported, thus causing
unnecessary confusion. A typical press account said, "Artificial coloring of Florida
citrus with a new system authorized several years ago by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has been under investigation by FDA for over 2 years, the Director
of the FDA, Dr. Charles E. Edwards, said here yesterday."

We were unable to reconcile such press accounts with verbal reports from non-
technical people present at the press conference. Fortunately, Dr. Edwards had not long
before suggested that we consult with several of his staff members whenever we needed
technical advice. We wrote immediately and received the following letter from Dr.
Wodicka of the FDA:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
Washington, D.C. 20204

March 30, 1973

Dear Professor Grierson:

This replies to your letter of February 24, 1973, concerning the status of
Citrus Red No. 2.

As you are aware, Section 8.201 prescribes safe conditions of use for Citrus
Red No. 2 for use for coloring skins of oranges that are not intended for pro-
cessing. While the use of color additives and other additives in foods is
under constant review and reevaluation, at the present time we have no scientific
information available which would indicate that Citrus Red No. 2 should be de-
listed or that additional restrictions should be put on its use. As you realize,
this does not preclude the possibility of adverse action against this or any
other additive at some future date if substantial scientific data should cast
doubt on its safety.

Frankly, we are rather confused by the article you enclosed. FD&C Red No. 2
is currently under review and we have proposed limitations on its use in foods.
However, this has no direct bearing on the status of Citrus Red No. 2.
Sincerely yours,.
S/"/-


Virgil 0. Wodicka
Director, Bureau of Foods

We are happy to be able to reassure the industry that press accounts wereAcorrect
and equally happy to express our appreciation for being able to get a prompt and
unequivocable statement from the top food scientist in the FDA.
W. Grierson
AREC. Lake Alfred






Newsletter #53


AIRPORT SECURITY AND FRUIT KNIVES

A friendly warning to citrus men who travel by air--security regulations
limit pocket knife blades to 3 inches. The standard fruit knife has a blade nearly
4 inches long. Since returning from the International Citrus Congress in Spain,
Dr. W. Grierson is looking for a new fruit knife.
W. Wardowski
Extension Service

PICKING SPECIALTY FRUITS

Rather in the mood in which Martin Luther nailed his theses on the church door
with the comment, "Here I stand, I can do no other," let me express a firm personal
conviction.

Any shipper who wishes to get through next year without considerable trouble
on specialty fruit had better start thinking now about assembling a picking crew
who will never, ever pick for the cannery. Inasmuch as possible, they will pick
only specialty fruits. When there are no specialty fruits to pick, they will pick
round oranges or grapefruit for the packinghouse. When there is no packinghouse fruit
of any sort to pick, they will not pick at all, even if it means providing make-work
jobs on hourly wages.

This is the most practical suggestion until (hopefully) somebody produces a
better solution to harvesting undamaged specialty fruit, uncontaminated by soil organiE
W. Grierson
AREC, Lake Alfred

NOISE LEVELS IN FRUIT GRADING BOOTHS

The modern tendency to enclose and air-condition the fruit grading area has
definitely added to the comfort of the ladies working on the grading line but, in
many cases, raises noise to a level that is uncomfortable and could be illegal under
current federal regulations. We have begun testing various materials for reducing
noise in packinghouses generally. Some of these materials will be demonstrated on
Packinghouse Day. Meanwhile, we suggest that anyone with a noisy grading area try
putting foam rubber padding on the underside of the metal chutes. It does not wear
away or collect fruit wax and is almost as effective in dampening the noise as when
placed on top of the chute.
W. Wardowski
Extension Service

RISSE GOING TO EUROPE

Our men in Europe, Rotterdam to be exact, in July will be Bill Chace, and Larry
Risse, both with the USDA, Orlando, prior to working in Europe. Russ Hinds who is
now in Rotterdam with Bill Chace will be moving to California.

Larry Risse's title will be Research Leader, European Marketing Research Center,
Agricultural Research Service, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and his duties are to
include research on packaging, transport, handling, and refrigeration equipment used
with U.S. agricultural products in Europe. He also will study the economics of the
markets and evaluate the quality of the products.


May 29, 1973






Newsletter #53


The citrus industry is indeed fortunate to have these three men as the first
representatives of an important new office in Europe. Larry Risse has some big
shoes to fill, and he is certainly capable of doing the job. Let's make use of the
talent there and at the same time, develop a viable market for these men to observe.
W. Wardowski
Extension Service



Mark Your Calendar For
CITRUS PACKINGHOUSE DAY
Wednesday, September 5, 1973
Agricultural Research & Education Center
Lake Alfred, Florida

****^**^*^^********* *****************************************************

FRUIT STORAGE

Anyone holding fruit in end-of-season storage is advised to periodically cut
some fruit for internal examination for Alternaria (Black rot). For further details,
see Packinghouse Newsletter No. 46, May 26, 1972.


AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS

Available from Dr. W. F. Wardowski, AREC, Lake Alfred, P. 0. Box 1088, Lake Alfred,
Florida 33850.

"The Florida Citrus Industry's Commitment to a Better Environment," by D.P.H. Tucker
and W. F. Wardowski. J. Environ. Quality 2(1):70-74. 1973.

Available from Agricultural Publications, University of California, Berkeley,
California 94720.


The Grapefruit:


Its Composition. Physiology, and Produc


1972. 600 pages of text, 187 figures and 195 tables.
of the University of California.


:ts, by Walton B. Sinclair.
$15.00 payable to The Regents


This public document was promulgated at an annual cost
of $201.60, or two and one-half cents per copy to inform
county agricultural directors, ranchers, and growers of
research results in harvesting and fresh fruit handling
and marketing.


Th Grapefruit:.


May 29, 1973