The nature and extent of retail and consumer losses in apples, oranges, lettuce, peaches, strawberries, and potatoes marketed in Greater New York

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THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL

AND CONSUMER LOSSES IN
APPLES, ORANGES, LETTUCE, PEACHES,

STRAWBERRIES, AND POTATOES
MARKETED IN GREATER NEW YORK
Marketing Research Report No. 996

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Agricultural Research Service

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

401629

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The cooperation and assistance of the following retail outlets, and public-servicing
wholesalers or food-chain distributing warehouses in the Greater New York area are
gratefully acknowledged:
Retail outlets
Acme Supermarkets
Big W Supermarkets
Runyon’s Supermarket
Save-Rite Supermarket
Shop-Rite Supermarkets
Two Guys Supermarkets
U Shop Supermarket

Wholesale and distribution operations
Acme Markets Inc., Kearny, N.J.
Medoff Brothers, New Brunswick, N.J.
Wakefern Food Corp., Elizabeth, N.J.
Watenmaker and Davis, Newark, N.J.
Wuhl-Shafman-Lieberman Co., Newark, N.J.

This publication reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain
recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have
been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State
and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended.

CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable
plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use
all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the
disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers.

Us Pestieides
te Fass THE Safely

U5, MUPANTOLOT OF aGnicuLtVAL

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Contents

Page

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Materials ‘and-samplinge methods*.2., 22) 441+ cts caso eie ¢ cpoeea Orato ae nee eee )
Wholesale sampling 4.0 3::.so.4oe. fete. Goce om ereseaes sais s Reta eee ee 2
Retail and consumer sampling sii aib.s5ech a os a cnen.ot « steed afm aeeheeye Seale 2
Commodity sampling «ch .j.ccauh oie Send ta dca o) aaueke Ss ae eRe et 3
Results:and discussion’ cco ash cae oteee ee ae ER eee 4
Red Delicious:apples from the Pacitic Northwest: :5.54..\c sph ccmaeecrvar peice 4
Red Delicious.apples fromAppalachiiay ~25)i220) 2.8. \e5 i fo sc0) tenes apa ueecieiier ere eee 8
Washington Navel. oranges from California... 5610. e0a. cco Sear oe 10
Valencia. oranges trom: Plorida- 32) sis 4.) 1cle cite esp users ais arene eee 12
Crsphead' lettuce from: Califormmias i... Seoaen Bacio seo ciee nelee ee neereee 13
POAC ES 218 sega alevatrbwinn, aie es aoatoa. aw hue Open Re Tee OAL OIeRe ae ee Sears Cr wena 16
DthaWDERHES: s.5.d aceasta oes ois ease» ore OPN RI neue dee casi area eer eee 18
Katahdin potatoes from Maine: t.4.5.44. ds ass SARs ae eaeeus xe ote te enorme Rte. 19
White Rose potatoes fromCalifornta:.. .1..0%. ty. Gandeer cud ensuite ea oe eee 20
Literature cited) ise ii..c:d gece asec Sse eons enue ora disease ea ae eee ee en ce 22

Washington, D.C. Issued July 1973

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington D.C. 20402. Price: 40 cents. Stock Number 0100-02927

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THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL AND CONSUMER LOSSES IN

APPLES, ORANGES, LETTUCE, PEACHES, STRAWBERRIES, AND
POTATOES MARKETED IN GREATER NEW YORK,

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By M. J. Copoitls, plant pathologist, and J. E. Butterfield, biological technician,
Northeastern Region, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture

SUMMARY

Six major fresh produce crops were periodically
sampled at wholesale, studied in retail stores, and
purchased for consumptability during their respective
seasons in the Greater New York area from 1966 to
1969. The condition of each crop in wholesale samples
was compared with that found in retail stores 2 or 3
days later. Losses in retail stores were categorized and
measured. Purchased retail store samples were held for
varying times at room temperatures (or 70° F.) or at
38° to 40° to simulate consumer holding before they
were examined for defects resulting in loss of edible
tissue. Retail and consumer losses in each commodity
for the completed study follow.

Wastage in Pacific Northwest Red Delicious apples
marketed from October through April was 1.0 percent in
retail and 2.6 percent in consumer samples for 1966-69.
Mechanical injury (0.6 percent) was the leading cause of
loss in retail. Nonparasitic disorders (1.2 percent) and
mechanical injuries (1.2 percent) caused most of the loss
in consumer samples.

Little retail loss occurred in Appalachian Red
Delicious apples that were usually marketed from
September to December. In consumer samples, 1.5 per-
cent loss occurred. Mechanical injuries caused 1.0 per-
cent and parasitic and nonparasitic disorders the
remaining 0.5 percent.

Retail and consumer losses in California navel oranges
marketed from November to April were 1.9 and 2.3 per-
cent, respectively, for the 3-year study. Parasitic
diseases, mainly penicillium rots, caused almost 75 per-
cent of the loss at both levels.

Parasitic diseases caused about 75 percent of the loss
in Florida Valencia oranges marketed in the February to

June periods of the study. Losses from all causes totaled
1.2 percent in retail and 2.0 percent in consumer
samples.

Mechanical injury was the leading cause of loss in
California crisphead lettuce marketed from April to
October of 1967-69. It comprised 2.7 percent of the
total 4.6 percent loss in retail and 3.1 percent of the
total 7.1 percent loss in consumer samples. Parasitic
disorders caused 1.5 and 1.2 percent loss in retail and
consumer samples, respectively. Losses from non-
parasitic disorders were 0.4 percent in retail and 2.8 per-
cent in consumer samples.

Mechanical injury and decay caused practically all the
loss in retail and consumer samples of peaches marketed
from May to September of 1967-69. Retail losses totaled
4.5 percent: 2.8 percent from mechanical injury and 1.7
percent from decay that was chiefly brown rot. Decay
caused 4.5 percent loss and bruising 3.6 percent loss in
consumer samples of peaches that were held at room
temperatures until they were ripe.

Strawberry losses in retail and consumer samples
totaled 4.9 and 18.0 percent, respectively, during the
March to October periods of the 3-year study. Parasitic
disorders, mainly gray mold rot, spoiled 3.6 and 11.6
percent of the berries in retail and consumer samples,
respectively. Mechanical injuries wasted the rest.

A 3.6 percent loss occurred in consumer samples of
Maine Katahdin potatoes marketed in Greater New York
in the December to May periods of 1966-69. Mechanical
injuries caused 1.5 percent; parasitic diseases, 1.1 per-
cent; and nonparasitic disorders, 1.0 percent.

Consumer losses in California White Rose potatoes
marketed in the May to July periods of 1967-69 totaled

1

2 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

3.2 percent. Parasitic diseases spoiled 2.1 percent. Losses
from mechanical injuries and nonparasitic disorders were
0.7 and 0.4 percent, respectively.

Assuming that our retail and consumer losses are
representative, the following losses have been estimated
for the marketing of these six crops in Greater New

York during 1966-69: Red Delicious apples from the
Pacific Northwest and Appalachia, 4.6 million pounds;
Florida Valencia and California navel oranges, 16.6 mil-
lion pounds; California lettuce, 49.7 million pounds;
peaches, 35.0 million pounds; strawberries, 9.8 million
pounds; and Maine Katahdin and California White Rose
potatoes, 30.0 million pounds.

INTRODUCTION

The estimated wholesale value of all fresh fruits and
vegetables unloaded on the New York market in 1969
was $450 million (14, 17)! . The retail value of this fresh
produce, with an average markup of 67 percent, was
$750 million. The monetary loss encountered in
marketing the enormous quantities of fresh produce
required to fill the needs of 16 million people in the
Greater New York area must be staggering. For even as
small a loss as 1 percent amounts to $4.5 million whole-

sale and $7.5 million in retail value.
Information on the nature and extent of losses in

produce after it reaches the terminal markets is very
meager. Very little factual data are available on losses
encountered in wholesaling, retailing, and consumption
of most produce commodities (7). Yet information on
the nature and magnitude of these losses could provide
valuable guidelines toward realizing such goals as
preserving the quality of produce, reducing marketing
costs, and promoting increased consumption of fresh
produce. It is toward the attainment of these goals that
we present the results of a 3-year study on market losses
in the Greater New York area.

MATERIALS AND SAMPLING METHODS

The following produce commodities were selected for
the study: (1) Apples, Red Delicious from the Pacific
Northwest and the Appalachian area; (2) oranges,
Washington Navels from California and Valencias from
Florida; (3) crisphead lettuce from central California; (4)
peaches, mostly from the East; (5) strawberries, mostly
from California; (6) potatoes, Katahdins from Maine and
White Rose from California. These commodities were
studied during their respective marketing seasons in
Greater New York over a 3-year period commencing in
September 1966 and ending in October 1969.

Wholesale Sampling

Each commodity was sampled weekly at public
servicing wholesalers or at distributing warehouses opera-
ted exclusively by large chainstores. The produce was
taken, usually within an hour of purchase, to our Belle
Mead, N.J., laboratory where it was examined on arrival
and after a simulated wholesale holding period. Both
types of wholesale suppliers were alternated weekly
whenever possible during the marketing period for each
commodity. However, the selection of the wholesale

‘Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 22.

supplier was contingent upon the later appearance of the
produce in our cooperating retail outlets. More samples
were procured from the chainstore warehouses than
from the public wholesalers because our publicly
serviced retail cooperators often preferred Delicious
apples grown locally and were reluctant to handle straw-
berries when prices were high.

Retail and Consumer Sampling

Two retail outlets serviced exclusively by food-chain
distributors or two to three publicly serviced retail
markets were visited weekly, usually on a Friday, to
determine the losses that occurred in retail and in the
consumption of the commodities under study. The retail
outlets selected in any one week were related to the
wholesaler from whom we obtained our wholesale
sample, usually 3 days preceding the retail visit. With the
exception of strawberries, there was a lapse of 2 or 3
days between the time the produce first arrived at the
warehouse and the time the produce was retailed in our
cooperating stores. Therefore, our visits usually
coincided with the retail sale of the same produce lot
that we had sampled earlier for wholesale condition.
This lapse did not apply to strawberries that were

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, .. . INGREATER NEW YORK 3

usually retailed 1 or 2 days after arriving at wholesale
outlets.

The test period in retail started at 8:30 a.m., at a
time when produce was being prepared for sale a half
hour before the start of general business in most stores.
It ended at 4:30 p.m. Except for lettuce and straw-
berries, the produce items under study were culled
cooperatively with store personnel. Culling losses were
recorded and, if necessary, culls were taken to the
laboratory to identify the cause(s) of damage. The heads
from representative carton samples of lettuce were
examined and trimmed exclusively by us in the stores to
determine the extent and the nature of losses encoun-
tered in trimming. Strawberry culling was done by store
personnel.

Consumer samples were purchased directly from
display counters twice in each of the stores visited, once
in midmorning and again in midafternoon. The samples
were taken to our laboratory on the day of purchase and
there subjected to simulated consumer-holding periods.
At the end of the specific holding period for each com-
modity, the samples were examined. Defects that
normally would be trimmed before consumption were
trimmed and the loss measured.

Commodity Sampling

Apples

Red Delicious apples were sampled from September
through April, the Appalachian fruits from September
through December, and the Pacific Northwest fruits
from October through April. Wholesale samples of
Pacific Northwest apples were l-carton tray packs and a
few cell cartons, extra fancy grade, ranging in size from
72 to 125, but mostly 88s, 100s, and 113s. The apples
came mainly from Washington, but fruits from Oregon
and British Columbia were also sampled. The apples
were obtained from chainstore distributors and public
wholesalers who serviced the retail markets cooperating
in this project.

The apple samples from the Appalachian area con-
sisted of three kinds:

e@ Tray packs, extra fancy grade, sizes 80 to 125,
mostly 100s and 113s.

@ Cartons of 12 or 15 3-pound polyethylene-bagged
fruits, U.S. fancy grade, 24-inch minimum.

@ Cartons holding 16 film-overwrapped consumer
trays, each carrying eight U.S. extra fancy grade apples
(2%-inch minimum).

Wholesale sampling of Appalachian fruits was mostly
restricted to the chainstore operation because our

publicly serviced retail cooperators seldom handled Red
Delicious apples from Appalachia.

Retail losses in Red Delicious apples were determined
by counting the defective fruits culled by store
personnel before the fruits were put on display or during
normal retail sales.

Consumer samples were purchased twice in each store
visited. When displayed in bulk, 20 to 22 apples (about 8
pounds) were sampled at each purchase. If prepackaged,
two or three consumer units were purchased each time.

Wholesale apple samples were examined at our Belle
Mead laboratory the same day they were obtained.
One-third of the apples were examined upon arrival.
External and internal defects were recorded and fruit
pressures taken with a Magness-Taylor pressure tester.
The remaining fruits were examined after 2 or 3 days at
38° to 40°F. Consumer samples were _ similarly
examined after they were held for 1 week at 38° to 40°.
In addition, defective tissues were trimmed and their
weights recorded.

Oranges

Navel oranges from California were sampled from
November through April and Florida Valencias from
February through June. Wholesale samples were 1-carton
units, sizes 56 to 113, mostly 88s and 113s in navels,
and sizes 163 to 252, mostly 200s in Valencias. In retail
stores the oranges were usually displayed in bulk or in
in-store prepackaged consumer units. Consumer samples
from a single store ranged from 20 to 60 oranges in bulk,
12 to 60 oranges in polyethylene bags of 6 to 10 fruits
per bag, and 24 to 30 oranges in film-overwrapped trays
of 6 fruits each. Wholesale samples were examined soon
after procurement and again after 2 or 3 days at 38° to
40° F. Retail samples were examined in the stores. Con-
sumer samples were examined after holding fruits for 1
week at 38° to 40°. Internal and external defects, and
the losses incurred by them, were evaluated.

Lettuce

Crisphead lettuce from central California was
sampled from April to October. Wholesale samples were
conventionally packed cartons of 24 heads with one
18-head carton exception. These samples were examined
at our laboratory the day we obtained them, one-third
of the heads on arrival, and the rest after 2 days at
38° to 40° F. To accurately measure losses in retail, we
trimmed one to eight cartons of lettuce, most often four
cartons, in each store visited. The wrapper leaves were
removed from the heads in wholesale and retail samples;
any defects that necessitated further trimming were

4 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

noted and the leaf trimmings weighed. Consumer
samples of a single store were purchases of eight to 30
trimmed heads, usually prepackaged individually in
plastic film bags. These samples were examined after 3
days at 38° to 40°. The leaves were removed to the heart
of the head, and the defective tissues that ordinarily
would not be consumed were weighed to determine loss.

Peaches

Peaches from the Southeast, the Middle Atlantic
States, California, and Michigan were sampled from late
May to mid-September. Wholesale samples were packed
in Du-all crates, fiberboard cartons, half-bushel baskets,
and wooden lugs. Consumer samples were almost always
in bulk, 10 to 20 pounds from each store visited. On a
few occasions consumer samples were prepackaged in
the store, film-overwrapped in shallow’ or
deep-seated-molded pulpboard trays.

Wholesale samples were examined for culls at our
laboratory on arrival and after a simulated wholesale
holding period at 38° to 40°F. Retail samples were
examined in the stores. Consumer samples purchased in
stores were held at room temperature until the fruits
ripened to the eating stage, usually within 1 to 3 days.
When ripe, the fruits were examined for defects. Defec-
tive tissues were trimmed and weighed to assess loss.

Strawberries

Strawberries were sampled from March to October.
California was the principal source of the berries,

although southern and local growing areas also con-
tributed. Wholesale sample units usually were 12-pint
trays. Occasionally, 8- and 16-quart cartons of local
strawberries were sampled. Consumer samples most com-
monly consisted of 12 pints from each store visited. In
addition, single store samples of 2 to 6 quarts and 4 to 8
pints of berries were obtained.

Usually one-third of the containers in a wholesale
sample of strawberries were examined at the laboratory
the first day the berries were obtained and the rest after
1 day at 38° to 40° F. Retail samples were examined in
the stores. Consumer samples were held for 1 or 2 days
at 38° to 40° before they were examined. Losses were
determined by the number of berries culled.

Potatoes

Katahdin potatoes from Maine were sampled from
December through May, and White Rose potatoes from
California from May to July. Wholesale samples of Maine
potatoes were 50-pound units containing 5 or 10 pounds
of tubers in prepackaged mesh-window paper bags.
Wholesale samples of White Rose potatoes were similarly
constituted with 5-pound prepackaged units in plastic
film bags.

The wholesale samples were culled once on arrival at
the laboratory and again after 6 days at 60° F. Con-
sumer samples were examined for culls and other defects
contributing to loss after the tubers were held at 70° for
10 days.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Red Delicious Apples From the
Pacific Northwest

Wholesale Samples

The overall good quality of Red Delicious apples
from the Pacific Northwest was the most striking feature
revealed in the 3 years of sampling this fruit. In samples
obtained from the wholesale outlets over the entire test
period, about 0.9 percent of more than 8,500 apples
examined were culls (table 1). Culls resulting from
decays made up 0.5 percent; from mechanical injury, 0.3
percent; and from nonparasitic disorders, 0.1 percent.

The number of wholesale sample culls in any one
marketing season never exceeded 1 percent. The per-
centage of culls dropped from 1.0 percent in the market-
ing season of 1966-67 to 0.6 percent in the marketing
season of 1968-69. This decline was chiefly due to a
reduction in badly bruised or mechanically damaged
fruits.

Wholesale outlets had no significant bearing on the
condition of the apples. The same brand frequently was
handled by the chain distributors and public wholesalers.
Differences in condition of the apples from our
cooperating wholesalers were attributed to normal
sampling variation.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... IN GREATER NEW YORK 5
TABLE 1.—Culls found in Pacific Northwest Red Delicious apples sampled in wholesale outlets in Greater
New York, October to April 1966-69
Culls caused by—
Marketing Apples
season Samples examined Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total culls
injuries' diseases? disorders?
Number Number Percent Percent Percent Number Percent
1966567 a. cneeehedoe ser 29 3,170 0.5 0.4 0.1 31 1.0
N96 T2687" Bie shots neleinia watt 28 3,034 BS) a | 0 29 1.0
T9G8=69" S60 crsoistets sides 24 2,371 2 3 1 14 6
All seasons ........... 81 8,575 ) Bs) 1 74 9
‘Cuts and bruises.
?Mostly blue mold and bull’sye rots.
3 Bitter pit and internal breakdown.
Retail Samples No significant quality differences were found

The good quality observed in our wholesale samples
was reflected in the relatively small losses encountered in
our cooperating retail outlets where Red Delicious
apples from the Pacific Northwest were handled (table
2). The retail culls totaled about 1 percent of the fruits
retailed during the weekly test days for the three
marketing seasons. This percentage was comparable to
the percentage of culls we found in the wholesale
samples. The increase in mechanically damaged fruits
was expected because of the extra handling entailed in
retailing the fruits in outlets characterized by self-service
produce departments. About six per 1,000 apples
retailed were mechanically damaged and three per 1,000
fruits decayed.

The lower incidence of decay, 0.3 percent, in retail
may be a truer index of that condition than the 0.5
percent found in the wholesale sampling since many
more apples (59,862) were observed in retail than were
examined in wholesale samples (8,575 fruits). On the
other hand, wholesale samples were examined more
critically at our Belle Mead laboratory with its better
facilities and without the pressure attending a produce
department on a busy day. Only a few store culls
resulted from nonparasitic disorders because of negli-
gible incidences of bitter pit and scald. In addition,
internal breakdown could not be detected without
cutting the fruits.

between chainstores and stores serviced by public whole-
salers. In 1968-69 the cull loss in the retail outlets serv-
iced by public wholesalers was substantially larger than
that in the chainstores, 1.7 and 0.4 percent, respectively.
However, the significance of this large difference was
dissipated by the small number and the great variability
of the samples in the publicly serviced outlets.

Consumer Samples

Whereas losses in wholesale and retail samples were
determined exclusively by culls, losses in consumer
samples were based solely on weight. As shown in table
3, mechanical damage (1.2 percent) and nonparasitic
disorders (1.2 percent), chiefly internal breakdown,
caused most of the loss encountered in consumer
samples for the entire study. Decay accounted for only
0.2 percent of the total 2.6 percent loss.

Mechanical injury was serious enough to warrant
trimming 22.4 percent of all apples in consumer samples
over the three marketing seasons, and a 1.2 percent
weight loss resulted (table 3). Nearly all the mechanical
injury in consumer samples was bruise damage. Bruises
exceeding three-quarters of an inch in surface diameter
were trimmed out as segments by a straight slice. The
average trimming loss per bruised fruit was 10 grams.
Other trimming losses under mechanical injuries
included discolored cuts and punctures, skin abrasions,

6 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

field scars, and insect injuries, all making up but a small
part of the loss in this category.

The number and size of bruises found in consumer
samples were compared with those found in wholesale
samples over the three marketing seasons (table 4). The

most bruising occurred in the 1966-67 season in both
wholesale and consumer samples. There was consid-
erably less bruising in 1967-68 and a much smaller
decline in 1968-69. The main reason for the decline was
the greater firmness of the fruit after the 1966-67

TABLE 2.—Culls found in Red Delicious apples from the Pacific Northwest retailed in Greater New York,
October to April 1966-69

Culls caused by—

eer ce Reson Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic ous
injuries? diseases” disorders*
Number Percent Percent Percent Number Percent
1966-67 Sistice id see's a1 21,192 0.7 0.4 0.1 250 V2
1967-68. 22-6 :5.004660% 55 22,267 a 3 0 218 1.0
196869 ac sos vin cs 45 16,403 4 “2 el - 116 af
All seasons ...... iy 59,862 6 3 mil 584 1.0

1 Bruises, cuts, and insect scars.
? Mostly blue mold rots.
*Mostly internal breakdown and bitter pit.

TABLE 3.—Cull and trimming losses found in consumer samples of Red Delicious apples from the Pacific North-
west retailed in Greater New York, October to April 1966-69

Apples trimmed and percent trimming loss’ Total
Marketing Apples
season examined Mechanical injuries? Parasitic diseases? Nonparasitic disorders* Apples Trimming
trimmed loss
Number Number Percent Number Percent Number _ Percent Number Percent

1966-67 ...... 1,707 449 1.5 13 0.3 35 1-5 497 3:3
1967-68 ...... 2,406 534 1,4 55 2 38 9 627 222
1968-69 ...... 1,879 359 he 16 1 40 1.3 415 2.5
All seasons... 5,992 1,342 1:2 84 2 113 1.2 1,539 2.6

Based on weight of fruits.

? Mostly bruises.

3 Mostly blue mold and bull’s-eye rots.
*Mainly internal breakdown.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 7

TABLE 4.—Number, size, and bruise index for bruises in wholesale and consumer samples of Red Delicious
apples from the Pacific Northwest marketed in Greater New York, October to April 1966-69

Marketing season Apples Apples by size of bruise (diameter) Bruise
and sample examined index!
% to % inch % to 1 inch 1 to 1% inch Over 1% inch
Number Number Number Number Number
1966-67:
Wholesale ........... 3,074 1,906 208 10 3 0.78
Consumer........... 1,707 1,668 366 41 15 157
1967-68:
Wholesale ........... 3,014 EM 110 5 4 34
Consumed: . 2.2 sii sae 2,406 15155 341 64 18 93
1968-69:
Wholesale)... 64! 6.s65 60 2371 420 110 6 1 28
Consumer..........- 1,879 757 315 35 10 .86
All seasons:
Wholesale ........ 8,459 3,063 428 21 8 48
Consumer........ 5,992 3,580 1,022 140 43 1.09

‘Numerical value for sizes of bruise; 1 for % to % inch; 2 for % to 1 inch; 4 for 1 to 1% inch; 8 for over 1% inch. Numerical value
times number of bruises in each category, added and divided by number of apples examined gives index.

marketing season. Fruit pulp pressures averaged 11.8,
15.0, and 15.9 pounds for 1966-67, 1967-68, and
1968-69, respectively. The late season marketing of
apples from controlled atmosphere (CA) storages also
increased from 1966-67 to 1968-69. Apples from CA
storages made up 26.7 and 29.2 percent of the apples
sampled in 1968-69 at the consumer and wholesale
levels, respectively. Only 13.8 percent of the apples in
wholesale and consumer samples were from CA storages
in 1966-67. Thus, more marketing of CA apples in
1967-68 and 1968-69 doubtlessly contributed to in-
creased firmness and, consequently, less bruising
damage.

The impact of extra handling in retailing these apples
is shown by the greater degree of bruising found in the
consumer samples over that in the wholesale samples
(table 4). The severity of bruising (bruise index) was 2 to
3 times greater in the consumer samples. Differences

between the two retail outlets were inconsistent and
apparently not significant.

Nonparasitic disorders were found in 1.2 percent of
the consumer apples sampled during the 3-year study
(table 3). This substantial increase of loss in consumer
samples was attributable to cutting the fruits to expose
their internal condition. The retail samples were exam-
ined in the store and could not be cut. Trimming loss per
fruit was large, averaging 111 grams.

Internal breakdown accounted for most of the loss.
This disease usually occurred in the last part of the
marketing season and indicated the approaching end of
the fruit’s shelf life.

The yearly variability in nonparasitic disease losses
was doubtlessly related to such factors as growing con-
ditions, fruit maturity and size, and bruise damage to
fruits. The retailing of the apples by different outlets
had no apparent effect on nonparasitic losses.

8 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Parasitic diseases caused less loss in consumer samples
over the three seasons (table 3) than did mechanical
injury or nonparasitic disorders. Only 1.4 percent of the
fruits had decay that was caused mainly by blue mold
rot, alternaria rot, and bull’s-eye rot. Trimming loss from
all decays totaled 0.2 percent. This low level was not
unexpected since most of the visible decays are normally
culled at retail.

Estimated Poundage Losses

If we consider our sampling losses as representative,
then losses in the marketing of Red Delicious apples
from the Pacific Northwest in Greater New York are
estimated at 4.2 million pounds for the three marketing
seasons of 1966-69. These losses are based on New York
carlot unloadings of the commodity during the study.
Retail waste was 1.2 million pounds. The consumer lost
3.0 million pounds. Retail and consumer losses totaled
2.1 million pounds in 1966-67 but dropped sharply to
1.2 million and 0.9 million pounds the next two seasons
(fig. 1). Mechanical damage and the nonparasitic dis-
order, internal breakdown, caused most of the losses.

PACIFIC NW RED DELICIOUS APPLES

3.0
C CONSUMER

R RETAIL
NONPARASITIC DISORDERS

2.4 MECHANICAL INJURIES
GMM PARASITIC DISEASES

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

1966-67 1967-68 1968-69

FIGURE 1.—Estimated retail and consumer losses in Pacific
Northwest Red Delicious apples marketed in Greater New
York, October to April 1966-69.

Discussion

Parasitic diseases caused the least damage to Pacific
Northwest Red Delicious apples in our marketing study.
Sodium orthophenylphenate (SOPP) is the standard
postharvest fungicide applied to western apples for
market disease control. Two newer experimental fungi-
cides, thiabendazole? [2-(4’-thiazolyl) benzimidazole]
and benomyl? [methyl 1-(butylcarbam oyl)-2-benzimida-
zole carbamate], are reportedly more effective than
SOPP on apples (5, 1, 13). These compounds cannot be
used until they have been approved and tolerance estab-
lished by the Environmental Protection Agency.
However, since the decay found in this commodity
accounted for only 14 percent of the estimated loss for
the 3-year period, the potential rot-control advantages of
newer postharvest chemical applications seem minimal.

The most damaging factor was mechanical injury that
accounted for almost 53 percent of the losses at retail
and consumer levels. However, losses from mechanical
damage, bruising mostly, declined during the study. This
reduction was probably related to the increased flow of
firm apples from CA storages in the latter part of the
marketing seasons of 1967-68 and 1968-69. Using deep-
cup pulpboard trays in tray packs has resulted in less
bruising in transit (6). Prepackaging apples in plastic
film-overwrapped consumer trays has also been benefi-
cial in reducing bruise damage (7).

The most damaging nonparasitic disorder found in
Red Delicious apples was internal breakdown. Since this
disorder is an indication of senility, measures that retard
the aging process will be beneficial. Certainly, adequate
refrigeration and CA storage are two important practices
that hold back development of internal breakdown.
Internal breakdown often develops in apples seriously
affected with watercore, another nonparasitic disorder.
Thus, apples affected with watercore should be mar-
keted as soon as possible.

Red Delicious Apples From Appalachia

Most of the Red Delicious apples from Appalachia
sampled in Greater New York came from Virginia. The
samples were obtained mainly from one chain organiza-
tion in the September through December periods of
1966-68.

?Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or

warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
or an endorsement by the Department over other products not
mentioned.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 9

Terminal market losses were small for the
Appalachian apples (table 5). The wholesale samples had
only 10 culls in 6,590 apples examined over the entire
test period. In retail, only 109 apples in more than
60,000 were discarded. In consumer samples 919 apples,
or 17.4 percent of the 5,272 fruits, required trimming,
which came to 1.5 percent of the fruits’ weight.

Mechanical injury was the leading cause of loss in
retail and consumer samples, accounting for almost 60
percent of all retail culls and 66 percent of all consumer
losses (table 5). Consumer trays provided the best pro-

tection against mechanical injury at all levels of terminal
marketing. Mechanical injury of apples retailed in bulk
and in 3-pound bags were comparable at the consumer
level. The bagged apples were smaller and firmer than
apples retailed in bulk, and this doubtlessly resulted in
less bruising than would have occurred with larger and
less firm apples. An evaluation of the number and size of
bruises showed almost 100 percent more bruising in
consumer samples than in wholesale samples.

Parasitic and nonparasitic diseases were of minor
importance in Appalachian Red Delicious apples.

TABLE 5,—Cull and trimming losses found in Red Delicious apples from Appalachia sampled in wholesale
and retail outlets in Greater New York, September to December 1966-68

Cull and trimming losses’

Sample and kind of Apples
package examined Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total
injuries? diseases* disorders? losses
Number Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale:

Consumer trays ....... 640 0 0.16 0.16 0.32
Tray Pack, sc. wcsses a.cia.e 2,249 .09 0 .04 13
SID bags: ae Scars «8 8G 3,701 .03 0 11 14

MOtalic, sstiaisiassens yack 6,590 .05 01 09 ifs)
Retail

Consumer trays ....... 4,352 0 05 0 05
Bulk T etecste ce eens 14,812 .27 10 12 49
3-lb bags ....,........ 41,208 -06 01 -O1 08

Total Yanick shh see es 60,372 ll 04 04 19
Consumer:

Consumer trays ....... 640 .26 20 23 69
Bik phone en doeg Sows es 1,737 1.02 08 54 1.64
3-Ib bags ........... 2,895 1.07 14 24 1.45

WOtal ob eieikcstiocs 5,272 97 12 37 1.46

‘Wholesale and retail losses are based on number of culls; consumer losses are based on the weight of culls and trimmings.

? Mainly bruises and cuts.
3 Mostly blue mold rots.
*Mainly internal breakdown and bitter pit.

10 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Internal breakdown was the principal nonparasitic
disease and blue mold rot the leading decay. The relative
insignificance of market diseases in Appalachian apples is
underscored by the disease count: 99 in 72,234 fruits
examined over the 3-year period.

The main reasons for the small marketing losses
found in the samples were: (1) The large number of
small, firm apples that were bagged; (2) the short dura-
tion of the storage period before apples were marketed;
and (3) the proximity of the Appalachian growing areas
to the New York market.

Losses projected over the Greater New York area was
estimated at 370,000 pounds. Retail losses made up only
40,000 pounds and consumer losses the remaining
330,000 pounds.

Washington Navel Oranges From California

Washington Navel oranges from California are always
in good demand on the New York market when in

season. The fruit is strictly a table dessert item and is
commonly eaten out of hand. During November through
April of 1966 to 1959, carlot deliveries averaged about
2,000 per season in Greater New York.

Wholesale Samples

The condition of navel oranges in the wholesale
samples was a good indicator of the losses we would find
in retail (table 6). Parasitic diseases caused more culls
than all other factors combined. Although such mechan-
ical damage as cuts and crushing caused as much damage
(1 percent) as parasitic diseases in the 1966-67 season, it
was only half as damaging for the entire study period.
The nonparasitic disorders caused about one-third as
many culls as parasitic diseases. All told, culls made up
1.9 percent of all oranges examined in our wholesale
samples, ranging from 1.3 percent in 1967-68 to 2.5
percent in 1966-67. Differences between samples from
the chain warehouses and the public wholesalers were

TABLE 6.—Cull and trimming losses found in Washington Navel oranges from California sampled in Greater
New York wholesale and retail outlets, November to April 1966-69

Cull and trimming losses’

Sample and marketing Oranges
season examined Physical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total
injuries? diseases* disorders* losses
Number Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale, 1966-69 ...... 6,423 0.5 11 0.3 19
Retail
1966-67 6.0 saison 48,073 53 1.8 ol 22
T9616 8 ices cove trae cccienc 28,031 4 1.0 1 125
T9C8~69) oie hiclocnisiepecons 43,883 “2 1.4 se 1.8
All S6aSONS © 4:5 sigieie ans 119,987 3 15 il 19
Consumer:
V9 66°67) occa sie. aretha ans 1,448 0 1.7 0 17,
T9G6 7-68) cdc iass cis ones te 2,006 1.2 12 ll 2:5
E968-69) 5.5 sas 2.3 ere shes 2,329 2 2.0 4 2.6
All seasons ......... 5,783 aS) 1.6 2 23

‘Wholesale and retail losses are based on number of culls; consumer losses are based on the weight of culls and trimmings.
> Mostly bruises and cuts in wholesale and retail samples; practically all due to field frost in consumer samples.

° Principally penicillium rots.

‘Mostly rind breakdown in wholesale and retail samples; granulation in consumer samples.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... IN GREATER NEW YORK 11

not great enough or consistent enough to warrant dis-
tinction.

Retail Samples

As indicated by our wholesale sample findings, para-
sitic diseases consistently led all other factors in spoilage
at retail (table 6). Ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 percent sea-
sonally, rots caused 1.5 percent loss of the Washington
Navel oranges examined in retail in the completed study.
Mechanical injuries, mainly punctures and cuts, caused
0.3 percent waste. Nonparasitic disorders spoiled only
0.1 percent. Rind breakdown was the chief cause of this
small loss. Loss differences were not significant between
chainstores serviced by their own distributors and retail
stores serviced by public wholesalers.

Consumer Samples

The spoilage encountered in navel oranges in the
consumer samples was based on weight and not on
number of culls as was done in the retail samples. For
the most part, however, the spoilage encountered in
consumer samples, which were held for 1 week under
refrigeration (38° to 40° F.), consisted of entire fruits;
nearly all of these were decayed. Fruit tissue damaged
mechanically or by nonparasitic disorders was usually
trimmed without discarding the whole fruit.

Parasitic diseases caused the most loss in consumer
samples over the 3 years (table 6). In the first marketing
season, 1966-67, it was the only cause of loss. In
1967-68, the 1.2 percent decay loss was equal to the
trimmed waste from oranges whose flesh was granulated
by field frost. In the marketing season, 1968-69 par-
sitic diseases resulted in a 2.0 percent loss. For the
entire study, decay wastage in consumer samples was 1.6
percent.

Field frost damage caused 0.5 percent and nonpara-
sitic disorders 0.2 percent loss in all consumer samples.
Bruising was not a factor. Granulation, other than that
caused by freezing, was the principal contributor to the
consumer loss in the nonparasitic disease category.

Estimated Poundage Losses

The data obtained in our study were used to estimate
retail and consumer losses in Washington Navel oranges
marketed in Greater New York. When consumer losses
are added to retail losses, loss estimates are approxi-
mately 3.1 million, 1.6 million, and 3.3 million pounds

for the three marketing seasons in 1966-69. Consumer
losses led retail losses, 4.3 million to 3.7 million pounds
(fig. 2). The reduced poundage loss estimated for
1967-68 was directly related to a greatly reduced volume
of navels marketed in New York that season.

Discussion

About three-quarters of all the spoilage in navel
oranges was caused by parasitic diseases. Green mold rot,
blue mold rot, alternaria rot, and brown rot were the
common decays, with green mold rot by far the most
prevalent. Gutter (9) and Harding (/0) in their research
found thiabendazole [2-(4’-thiazolyl) benzimidazole |
and benomyl [methyl 1-(butylcarbamoyl)-2-benzimi-
dazole carbamate] more effective in controlling post-
harvest rots in some orange varieties than the standard
sodium orthophenylphenate application. Thiabendazole
has been registered by the Environmental Protection
Agency for use on citrus to be shipped in interstate
commerce. At the date of this publication, benomyl had
not been so registered.

CALIFORNIA NAVEL ORANGES

R_ RETAIL

C CONSUMER
[FEEJNONPARASITIC DISORDERS
VZA MECHANICAL INJURIES
BBB Parasitic viseases

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

1966-67 1967-68 1968-69

FIGURE 2.—Estimated retail and consumer losses in California
navel oranges marketed in Greater New York, November to
April 1966-69.

12 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Valencia Oranges From Florida

Wholesale Samples

Decayed fruits comprised most of the Valencia
oranges from Florida culled in the wholesale samples. In
the marketing of Florida Valencias from February
through June in 1967-69, parasitic diseases spoiled 0.9
percent of all fruits examined (table 7). Mechanical
injury (0.3 percent) and nonparasitic disorders (0.1 per-
cent) resulted in an additional 0.4 percent loss. Thus, 1.3
percent of the fruits in the wholesale samples were culls.

Retail Samples

Losses in our cooperating retail outlets in the 3-year
study closely followed the results obtained in our
wholesale sample examinations. Decay was again the

leading cause of spoilage in retail. Losses from parasitic
diseases ranged from 0.8 to 1.1 percent seasonally and
came to 0.9 percent for the complete study. Mechanical
damage caused 0.2 percent waste and nonparasitic
disorders, 0.1 percent. Culls from all causes totaled 1.2
percent of more than 76,000 oranges examined in retail
(table 7).

Consumer Samples

Parasitic diseases produced the most spoilage of
Florida Valencia oranges in the consumer samples (table
7). Decay losses ranged from 1.3 to 2.0 percent sea-
sonally and caused 1.7 percent of the weight of the
fruits in the consumer samples to be discarded over the
3-year study. Practically all the decayed fruits were
entirely spoiled. The importance of parasitic diseases as a
loss factor is indicated by the 2.0 percent statistic for all
losses found in consumer samples during the study.

TABLE 7.—Cull and trimming losses found in Valencia oranges from Florida samples in wholesale and retail
outlets in Greater New York, February to June 1967-69

Cull and trimming losses?

Sample and marketing Oranges
season examined Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total
injuries? diseases? disorders* losses
Number Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale,1967-69 ...... 5,884 0.3 0.9 0.1 133
Retail:
TOG ele ce em yates 28,003 0 9 0 9
W9O8! ogctcsie ease ee es 30,570 ll 1.1 al 1.3
1969S eed sees eauees 17,605 6 8 mal 1S)
LO OPEOO Mate ass saa ths ais 76,178 2 9 l ile
Consumer:
VOGT as. eke a) sats a bas 1,588 0 2.0 3 233,
W968. oth ae eetee ne. sate raves 2,020 0 1.8 al 1.9
L9G ie Lecterns: =. creer 1,888 0 1-3 6 139
1967-69 orcas eStats 5,496 0 1.7 3 2.0

‘Wholesale and retail losses are based on number of culls; consumer losses are based on the weight of culls and trimmings.
? Principally cuts, punctures, and field scars; a few dehydrated fruits included.

3 Principally green mold and stem-end rots.

* Practically all rind breakdown in wholesale and retail samples; mostly granulation in consumer samples.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 13

Nonparasitic disorders caused the remaining difference,
0.3 percent, since losses from mechanical injuries were
nil.

Estimated Poundage Losses

Florida Valencia orange unloads on the New York
market ranged from 1,700 to 2,300 carlots during the
3-year study (J5, 16, 17). Accepting our findings as
representative, we estimated Greater New York losses in
Florida Valencias to be 8.6 million pounds for the
period. Yearly losses were estimated at 3.0 million for
1967, 3.2 million for 1968, and 2.4 million pounds for
1969 (fig. 3). Consumer losses led retail losses, 5.4
million to 3.2 million pounds, during this time.

Discussion

Parasitic diseases caused most of the market loss in
Florida Valencia oranges. Penicillium and stem-end rots
were most important, comprising 90 percent of all the
decays found. Florida Valencias are routinely treated
with sodium orthophenylphenate (SOPP). However, the
search goes on for a more effective fungicide; one that

FLORIDA VALENCIA ORANGES
3.0

R_ RETAIL
C CONSUMER
EZE]NONPARASITIC DISORDERS
CZZAMECHANICAL INJURIES
2.4 |} BBBBPARASITIC DISEASES
C

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

0.6

1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 3.— Estimated retail and consumer losses in Florida
Valencia oranges marketed in Greater New York, February to
June 1967-69.

can be handled easily and applied safely (9). Thiabenda-
zole [2-(4’-thiazolyl) benzimidazole] has been used to a
limited degree, but SOPP still remains the principal
fungicide used to control post-harvest decays in oranges.

Culled Valencias in retail were generally dehydrated,
or marred by prominent cracks, cuts, and punctures.
Ordinary bruises that result in some rind damage are
usually not defective enough to justify discarding the
fruit. Not much commercial importance is attached to
the appearance of the rind of this variety because the
fresh fruit is ordinarily used for juice.

The small amount of damage caused by nonparasitic
disorders was produced mainly by severe rind
breakdown in retail samples, and this disorder along with
granulation in the consumer samples.

Crisphead Lettuce From California

The volume of crisphead lettuce delivered to the New
York market annually is second only to potatoes among
vegetables and tops all fresh fruits except bananas and
oranges. The wholesale value of 1969 lettuce arrivals was
estimated at more than $30 million (/4, 17). The
Salinas-Watsonville-King City growing area in central
California annually supplies the New York market with
approximately two-thirds of the lettuce consumed in
this metropolitan area from April through October (/5,
17). Lettuce leads all produce crops in the number of
shipments annually rejected or discounted on the New
York market because of condition.

Wholesale Samples

The condition of central California lettuce sampled at
wholesale during the April to October marketing seasons
of 1967-69 was fairly good (table 8). In trimming heads
to retail marketability, wastage in edible lettuce ranged
from 2.7 to 5.0 percent seasonally and came to 4.1 per-
cent for the entire study period. Mechanical injury
caused losses of 1.4 percent, parasitic diseases, 1.6 per-
cent, and nonparasitic disorders, 1.1 percent.

Retail Losses

The losses encountered in the cooperating retail
stores were generally comparable to the losses indicated
in the wholesale sampling. Mechanical damage, practi-
cally all from bruising, was greater and reflected the
additional handling involved in moving the produce from
the distributing warehouses to retail outlets. Parasitic

14 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

losses in retail stores were comparable to those encoun-
tered in our wholesale samples. Losses resulting from
nonparasitic disorders, chief of which was russet
spotting, were not as great in retail stores as in wholesale
samples. Since many more heads were trimmed and
examined in retail, the data collected in the retail stores
were probably more representative than that collected in
the wholesale sample (table 8).

The yearly variation in the three loss categories,
namely, mechanical injury, parasitic diseases, and
nonparasitic disorders, was not great (table 8). There
were no consistent differences in loss of edible lettuce
between the chain- and public-serviced retail outlets;
therefore, the data were combined. Total losses ranged
from 4.4 to 4.8 percent at the retail level. Bruising
damage was the leading cause of loss uncovered by us in
trimming the heads to retail marketability. Since only 60
heads of the 9,492 heads examined in retail were

complete losses and less than 100 heads were trimmed to
a discounted size (usually two heads for price of one),
the loss was largely hidden by retailing lighter heads.
Because the heads were sold as units and not by weight,
this loss was passed on to the consumer in the form of a
slightly smaller head.

Consumer Samples

Evaluations were made after holding consumer
lettuce samples for 2 or 3 days at 38° to 40°F. to
simulate consumer holding. In these examinations the
heads were completely torn apart; inedible defective
tissue was weighed and recorded as loss. In examining
our wholesale and retail samples, the heads were
trimmed only to a marketable condition, namely,
removing wrapper leaves and trimming visibly defective
tissues.

TABLE 8.—Cull and trimming losses found in California crisphead lettuce sampled in wholesale and retail
outlets in Greater New York, April to October 1967-69

Average Cull and trimming losses’
Sample and marketing Heads weight
season examined per head Mechanicai Parasitic Nonparasitic Total
injuries? diseases* disorders* losses
Number Grams Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale, 1967-69° 1,770 633 1.4 1.6 1.1 4.1
Retail: §
WCF oo lond Suton ase bas 3,084 615 2.5 15 4 4.4
1968 os ciicnce seems eae 3,072 660 2.8 1.2 4 4.4
1969 ie earns 508 eisces 3,336 625 Ze 1.8 23 4.8
All seasons ......... 9,492 633 2.7 PEP 4 4.6
Consumer: *
1967 eisai biraiivecs. 5 dara 960 534 3.6 1.5 3.7 8.8
VOCS ssdise ks Sree oo GS 916 563 31 8 2a 6.6
1969 eee eon B See he 918 544 2.7 1.3 129 oye)
All seasons ......... 2,794 547 3-1 132 2.8 al

‘Wholesale, retail, and consumer losses are based on weight of culls and trimmings.

? Practically all bruising.
> Mainly gray mold rots and bacterial soft rots.

* Russet spotting, tipburn, rib discoloration, brown stain, pink rib, bolting, sunscald.

5 Losses observed in trimming to retail marketability.
* Losses included defective tissues throughout the heads.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, .. . INGREATER NEW YORK 15

Loss from the nonparasitic disorders increased multi-
fold at the consumer level, 2.8 percent as compared with
0.4 percent in retail (table 8). This increase was directly
attributed to the more complete examination of the
heads in determining their consumptability. Much of the
damage incurred by the presence of such physiological
diseases as russet spotting, tipburn, rib discoloration, and
brown stain is not visible at retail but discovered only
when the lettuce is being prepared for eating. Possibly,
holding heads under refrigeration for 2 or 3 days con-
tributed to some further development in russet spotting,
brown stain, and pink rib. Most of the damage in the
heads, however, was present at the time of retail pur-
chase but could not be detected because of its internal
nature. Retailers remove visibly defective tissues during
presale trimming; a practice we followed in trimming
wholesale and retail samples. For many heads removing
one or two defective outer head leaves results in a clean
head suitable for marketing. Further trimming in the
absence of any external defects is not necessary.

While nonparasitic disorders reached their greatest
importance in the consumer samples, mechanical damage
was still the leading cause of loss (3.1 percent) over the
complete sampling period (table 8). Practically all this
loss was bruising damage and the oxidative discoloration
accompanying it.

Parasitic diseases resulted in a loss of 1.2 percent of
all edible lettuce in the consumer samples (table 8).
Nearly all the decays were gray mold rots or bacterial
soft rots. The presence of bacterial soft rot in consumer
samples indicates that the rot was not completely
removed when the heads were trimmed in retail or that
rot development occurred because heads were not
properly refrigerated after they had been trimmed and
wrapped. The same can be said about gray mold rot
except that it can continue to make inroads, albeit
slowly, even at the refrigerated temperatures that would
arrest most bacterial soft rots. Retail counters with
limited refrigeration will not protect all lettuce when
heads are displayed several layers high. On a few
occasions pulp temperatures in the 50’s (°F.) in heads
atop retail displays were recorded.

The large discrepancy between the average weight per
head of the consumer samples (547 grams) and the
average weight per head of the retail and wholesale
samples (633 grams for each) is surprising (table 8).
Obviously, some weight loss occurs in trimming defects.
However, based on the 4.6 percent loss found during
retail trimming, average weight of the consumer sample
should be about 604 grams. But this weight would apply

only to samples we trimmed, not to heads trimmed by
store personnel. We trimmed about 30 percent of the
heads retailed on test days during the 3-year study.
Consequently, our consumer samples were made up
mostly of heads trimmed by store personnel.

What caused this substantial discrepancy of more
than 50 grams? Some moisture loss probably occurred in
the retailing of the lettuce and during the simulated
holding period. However, it probably was not more than
5 or 10 grams per head (2) because the heads were usual-
ly prepackaged individually in cellophane or polyethyl-
ene film bags before display. Probably most of this
apparent weight loss resulted from excessive trimming of
lettuce by store personnel, either accidentally or inad-
vertently. Produce clerks trimmed much more rapidly
than we did since they were not concerned with segre-
gating the defective tissues. The busiest chainstore used a
machine-driven rotary blade to slice off the butt end,
along with the wrapper leaves, and this operation doubt-
lessly contributed to some excessive trimming.

Estimated Poundage Losses

Projecting losses found in our samples over Greater
New York provided us with the loss estimates presented
in figure 4. The estimates are based on New York carlot
unloadings for California lettuce during the April to
October study periods of 1967-69 (15, 16, 17). For the
three marketing seasons, retail and consumer losses
totaled 11.6 million and 38.1 million pounds, respec-
tively. Included in consumer losses was the loss that
apparently resulted from excessive trimming of the
heads in retail stores.

Discussion

Eliminating excessive trimming of lettuce in retail
stores would measurably benefit the consumer. How-
ever, such a prospect is highly unlikely if the trimming is
done in the store. Too often this task is performed by
store personnel who are indifferent to the loss of a leaf
or two. Commonly, the trimming is rushed because of
pressure of other chores. An out-of-store prepackaging
operation, therefore, appears preferable, since the
trimming operation could be standardized in the hands
of skilled personnel. Out-of-store prepackaging opera-
tions are presently done in the field or by terminal
market packinghouses. Such prepackaging, however,
accounts for only a small fraction of the lettuce mar-
keted.

16 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CALIFORNIA LETTUCE

R RETAIL

C CONSUMER
E==qNONPARASITIC DISORDERS
CZZAMECHANICAL INJURIES
GHB PARASITIC DISEASES C

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 4.—Estimated retail and consumer losses in California
lettuce marketed in Greater New York, April to October
1967-69.

Reducing the lettuce damage caused by rough or
excessive handling would also benefit the consumer.
More careful handling of lettuce deliveries to stores is
indicated. Lettuce should be refrigerated as soon as
possible after delivery to retail stores to retard the dis-
coloration following bruising.

The losses caused by parasitic diseases such as gray
mold rot and bacterial soft rot are reduced by providing
adequate refrigeration for lettuce in marketing channels.
Highly perishable produce is best protected when trans-
ported to retail stores in refrigerated delivery trucks.
Lettuce should be coldstored as soon as possible after
delivery. Prolonged periods without refrigeration during
trimming, after trimming, or before replenishing store

counters should be avoided. Refrigerating capacity of
produce counters should be sufficient to keep lettuce on
display cool.

Peaches

Wholesale Samples

Peaches sampled in wholesale during the 3-year study
were frequently hard and green though mature. Conse-
quently, the condition of the peaches at arrival and after
the 2-day simulated wholesale holding period at 38° to
40° F. was marred principally by mechanical injury
(table 9). Decay, almost always brown rot, was not a
serious problem in green, hard peaches. One in three
culls was brown rotted; the other culls were mechan-
ically damaged, mainly by cuts and bruises. A few culls
were field-scarred or damaged by insects.

Retail Samples

Mechanical damage was the leading cause of loss
seasonally in peaches at retail (table 9). It accounted for
2.8 percent of the 4.5 percent cull total from all causes
in the 3-year study. The remaining culls, 1.7 percent,
were decayed, mostly with brown rot. The increased
importance of parasitic diseases as a loss factor in retail
followed the generally more advanced stage of ripeness
in the fruits. Aside from an occasional peach culled
because of a growth crack, no losses from nonparasitic
disorders were found.

Consumer Samples

The greatest amount of peach loss occurred in the
consumer samples, totaling 8.1 percent of the fruit
weight during the study (table 9). Decay waste was most
pronounced. Nearly all the decays apparently developed
from incipient infections or from rots that were too
small to be readily seen in retail. The decays, chiefly
brown rot, developed rapidly at room temperature
during the one or two days required to ripen the fruits.
A substantial number of decayed peaches (36 percent)
required trimming. The yearly decay trimming loss
ranged from 4.1 to 4.9 percent by weight. For the entire
study period parasitic diseases caused 4.5 percent loss by
weight of the peaches in the consumer samples.

Damage from mechanical means was also important
in consumer samples. Trimming losses ranged from 2.4
to 4.5 percent yearly, and totaled 3.6 percent for 3 years

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 17

(table 9). Most of the trimming loss resulted from large
bruises and attendant discoloration of the flesh. A small
amount of loss resulted from insect injuries, dehydra-
tion, and field scars. Aside from a negligible loss in a few
peaches with split pits, nonparasitic disorders produced
no waste in consumer samples.

Estimated Poundage Losses

Losses in peaches marketed in Greater New York
have been estimated for the 3 years of the study (fig. 5).
Combined retail and consumer losses ranged from 10.7
to 12.8 million pounds yearly. Retail losses for the
3-year period added up to 12.5 million pounds. Con-
sumer losses were estimated at 22.5 million pounds.

Discussion

Decay and mechanical injury caused practically all of
the loss in peaches at retail and consumer levels. When

consumer losses are added to those of retail culls, decay
caused 6.2 percent; bruising damage, 5.7 percent; and
field scars, insect injuries, and dehydration, 0.7 percent
loss.

Brown rot was, by far, the most prevalent decay. As
indicated on the carton, a small number of sample units
were treated with a postharvest fungicide, orthophenyl-
phenol, but in many others no treatment other than
hy drocooling was indicated.

Postharvest decays have been successfully controlled
by hot water treatments and application of the fungi-
cide, botran (4, /2). Very recently postharvest rots were
successfully controlled by treating peaches with a hot
fungicide solution (/8).

Mechanical damage to peaches can be reduced by
prepackaging the fruits in consumer trays at the shipping
point (8). Because prepackaging is more costly than
packing and retailing peaches in bulk, the extra expense
may be beneficial only in marketing high-quality
peaches.

TABLE 9.—Cull and trimming losses found in peaches sampled in wholesale
and retail outlets in Greater New York, May to September 1967-69

Cull and trimming losses’

Sample and marketing Peaches
season examined Mechanical Parasitic Total
injuries? disease? losses
Number Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale, 1967-69 ...... 6,351 1.6 0.7 2.3
Retail:
U9 GT ine savocssspsberasuateusions 33,150 2.3 17 4.0
VOCS aie bo elstehegd suscevs ese 36,468 2.6 1.1 3.7
VOGD sas ccsve a sea arora 31,602 3) 2:3 6.0
All seasons .......... 101,220 2.8 17 4.5
Consumer:
VOGT. spcidiebysieuuetsy siareists 1,700 3.9 4.5 8.4
W9OS ice See tee 2,546 4.5 4.1 8.6
MOD! visicsclorsyecedeteubus fee tobacs 2,116 2.4 4.9 7.3
AN SEASONS! © S15 Sie wid 6,362 3.6 4.5 8.1

1 Wholesale and retail losses are based on number of culls; consumer losses, on the

weight of culls and trimmings.
?Mostly cuts and bruises.
3 Principally brown rot.

18 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

PEACHES

R RETAIL

C CONSUMER
VZAMECHANICAL INJURIES
BBB Parasitic Diseases

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 5.—Estimated retail and consumer losses in peaches
marketed in Greater New York, May to September 1967-69.

Strawberries

The Greater New York market receives from two-
thirds to three-fourths of its strawberries from
California. The rest comes from Mexico, the Southern
States, and local growing areas. Because of its high cash
value and great perishability, strawberries from Califor-
nia are usually air shipped to New York, although 52- to
54-hour transcontinental truck transport is increasing.
Strawberries from other growing areas are trucked to
New York, except for some air shipments from Mexico.

Wholesale Samples

Wastage in wholesale samples was caused by decay,
principally gray mold rot, and mechanical injury that
was manifested by bruised, soft, or leaking berries.
Decay wastage consistently exceeded wastage from
mechanical injuries (table 10). Differences in berry
condition from chainstore distributors and public-service
wholesalers were inconsistent.

Retail Samples

Wastage in retail stores followed the same pattern
observed in our wholesale samples. Decay losses ranged
from 2.5 to 5.1 percent yearly and the 3.6 percent total
for the 3 years was almost 3 times greater than the 1.3
percent loss caused by mechanical damage (table 10).
Gray mold rot was the dominant decay, accounting for
most of the rots. The yearly range in loss from mechan-
ical damage was 0.7 to 1.6 percent. Wastage in retail
caused by decay and mechanical injury totaled 4.9 per-
cent in the completed study.

The waste in retail was not wholly borne by the
retailer. A pint from which one or two berries are culled
usually means fewer berries for the customer who pur-
chases that unit. Only those visibly defective berries,
such as leaky or moldy ones, are ordinarily removed
from the container. The usual cursory culling in retail
doubtlessly passes over defective berries not readily
observed.

Consumer Samples

Strawberry spoilage in consumer samples was sub-
stantial (table 10). At the end of 1 or 2 days at 38° to
40° F., 18 percent of all berries examined in the study
were wasted by decay and the after effects of mechan-
ical damage. Yearly decay losses ranged from 9.7 to 14.0
percent and were 11.6 percent for 3 years. Losses from
badly bruised, soft, and leaky berries ranged from 4.4 to
7.6 percent yearly and came to 6.4 percent for the
1967-69 period.

Estimated Poundage Losses

Omitting foreign berries, losses in the marketing of
strawberries in Greater New York during 1967-69 was
estimated at 9.8 million pounds. Yearly losses were
estimated at 2.7, 3.7, and 3.4 million pounds for 1967,
1968, and 1969, respectively (fig. 6). For the 3-year
period, the consumer loss of 7.7 million pounds was
more than three times the 2.1 million pounds lost in
retail.

Discussion

Decay was the principal cause of loss. Gray mold rot
affected almost 10 percent of all berries in the consumer
samples and accounted for more than 80 percent of all
decayed berries. Rhizopus rot was the next most

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 19

TABLE 10.—Cull losses found in strawberries sampled in wholesale and retail outlets in Greater New York,
March to October 1967-69

Cull losses

Sample and marketing Pints Total
season Berries Mechanical Parasitic
examined injuries! diseases?
Number Number Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale,1967-69 ...... 526 18,121 2.1 3.8 a9
Retail
VOGT diss cues cacass 1,354 48,195 7 2.7 3.4
WOGS: . sxerdeie Susss s Acgevetatars 2,144 77,835 1.6 Bye! 6.7
WOOD: Site blapsinisesoia Sc sieis ere 1,920 68,340 1.4 25 3:9
All’seasons! 4. si. 6s/0:8 5,418 194,370 1:3 3.6 4.9
Consumer:
VOGT oideinhge- 6 fatten ews See 204 7,085 4.4 10.0 14.4
VOGS i cise, ahead writes ois yeni 295 9,776 6.4 9.7 16.1
TOGO ssianrdsiits eitend ana veaviavevs 384 12,763 7.6 14.0 21.6
All seasons ......... 883 29,624 6.4 11:56 18.0

Principally badly bruised, soft, and leaking berries.

? Mainly gray mold rot.

common decay, affecting about 1.3 percent of all
berries. Postharvest chemical treatments for the control
of diseases in strawberries have not been very successful.
Radiation, heat treatments, and modified atmospheres
to control rots have met with indifferent success.

The best control measure is refrigeration. The value
of continuous refrigeration is seen in the work of Cal-
ifornia researchers who found that strawberries artifi-
cially inoculated with the gray mold rot organism did
not show visible rot symptoms until 8 days later when
the berries were held at temperatures below 40° F. (3).
This study and related studies indicate that decay would
be considerably reduced if strawberries were given
adequate refrigeration in air transit, at wholesale, and
while in retail stores.

A considerable part of the wastage from mechanical
damage is also related to inadequate refrigeration. Wast-
age often results from the greatly enhanced bruise-sus-
ceptibility of strawberries that are overripened and soft-
ened by inadequate temperature protection accorded
them in marketing channels.

Katahdin Potatoes From Maine

Wholesale Samples

A loss of 1.3 percent occurred in the wholesale
samples of Katahdin potatoes with little variation in the
December to May marketing periods of 1966-69 (table
11). Mechanical injury, mainly bruising damage, wasted
1.0 percent and decay, 0.3 percent of the tubers.
Greening, a nonparasitic disorder, was insignificant. The
6-day simulated wholesale holding period at 60° F. did
not measurably affect the quality of the tubers.

Retail Observations

The samples of Katahdin potatoes from Maine, all
U.S. No. 1, were prepackaged at shipping points with the
exception of one sample that was prepackaged in the
store. Shipping point prepackaging eliminated culling at
the store level, thereby excluding retail losses. Rarely
was a bag opened in a retail store or returned to a store
by a purchaser for a refund.

20 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

STRAWBERRIES
R_ RETAIL

3.0 C CONSUMER
PZZAMECHANICAL INJURIES
MMMMBPARASITIC DISEASES ¢

24
a

©0

—s
BO

LOSSES (MILLIONS OF POUNDS)

0.6

1967 1968 1969

FIGURE 6.—Estimated retail and consumer losses in strawberries
marketed in Greater New York, March to October 1967-69.

Consumer Samples

In the 3-year study the consumer samples were
trimmed of 3.6 percent of their weight after the 10-day
simulated consumer holding period at 70° F. (table 11).
The losses were due to mechanical injuries, 1.5 percent;
parasitic diseases, 1.1 percent; and nonparasitic dis-
orders, 1.0 percent. There was little yearly variation
from these figures in the three loss categories. The main
defects in each category were bruising and cuts in
mechanical injuries, fusarium rots and vascular discolora-
tion in parasitic diseases, and hollow heart, sprouting,
and internal black spot in the nonparasitic disorders.

Estimated Poundage Losses

Assuming our sampling losses were representative,
consumer wastage in Maine Katahdin potatoes marketed
in Greater New York was estimated at 25 million pounds
for the three marketing seasons of 1966-69. Seasonal
losses ranged from 7.2 million to 9.1 million pounds (fig.
7). Losses in retail were estimated at less than 0.1 mil-
lion pounds.

White Rose Potatoes From California

Two sizes of California White Rose potatoes were
sampled during the May to July periods of 1967-69. The
larger sized tubers (size A) were sampled more fre-
quently than the smaller ones (size B). In 1968, only the
larger size was sampled. Differences between sizes and
between retail outlets were not significant nor consistent
from one season to another.

Wholesale Samples

Mechanical injuries such as impact bruises and
mechanical digger wounds caused 0.8 percent of the
tubers in our wholesale samples to become culls (table
12). Decayed culls made up 0.3 percent. Nonparasitic
disorders were not visible externally nor serious enough
in any tuber to make it a cull. Arrival quality was not
measurably decreased by holding the potatoes for 6 days
at 60° F.

Retail Observations

All White Rose potato samples were prepackaged
before reaching retail. Consequently, no data on retail

CALIF. WHITE ROSE POTATOES MAINE KATAHDIN POTATOES
14

[E]NONPARASITIC DISORDERS :
ZZZ]MECHANICAL INJURIES
12 HMM Parasitic Diseases 12
Pan 10
=
>
jo)
a
o 8 8
wn
=
2
= 6 6
wn
ww
n”
g4
2 2

1967 1968 1969 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69

FIGURE 7.—Estimated consumer losses in California White Rose
and Maine Kathadin potatoes marketed in Greater New York,
1966-69.

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... INGREATER NEW YORK 21

TABLE 11.—Cull and trimming losses found in Katahdin potatoes from Maine sampled in wholesale and retail
outlets in Greater New York, December to May 1966-69

Potatoes sampled Cull and trimming losses!
Sample and marketing Number Pounds Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total

season injuries? diseases® disorders* losses

Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale,1966-69 ...... 9,867 3,673 1.0 0.3 0 1,3

Consumer:

TOG G67 ae. c6:oce.s di: 3: 3,078 1,094 1.4 1.1 1.1 3.6
1967-68. wicd 2G S% 5 ie 3,059 1,151 1.4 1.1 1.1 3.6
1968269 os ie: io:6 oew cece“ 2,448 920 1.6 1.1 8 3.5
1966-69 ois secteee ere 8,585 3,165 1:5 1.1 1.0 3.6

1 Wholesale losses are based on the number of culls; consumer losses, on the weight of culls and trimmings.
? Bruises and cuts.

3Principally fusarium rots and vascular discoloration.

4 Principally hollow heart, sprouting, and internal black spot.

TABLE 12.—Culi and trimming losses found in California White Rose potatoes’ sampled in wholesale and retail
outlets in Greater New York, May to July 1967-69

Potatoes sampled Cull and trimming losses?
Sample and marketing Number Pounds Mechanical Parasitic Nonparasitic Total
season injuries® diseases* disorders® losses
Percent Percent Percent Percent
Wholesale,1967-69 ...... 4,335 1,360 0.8 0.3 0 1.1
Consumer:
DOG Ta iate: scsyeners:aianetosers.a 1,388 302 8 ot .2 LT
DIGS is See Ree eee os 671 283 8 4.9 4 6.1
1969. wi0sniegeindaie-3asie 1,159 384 5 1.2 6 2.3
All seasons ......... 3,218 969 af 2:1 4 3.2

12 sizes (A and B) except in 1968 when only size A was sampled.

? Wholesale losses are based on number of culls; consumer losses, on the weight of the culls and trimmings.
3 Mostly cuts and bruises.

4Mainly fusarium rots and bacterial soft rots.

‘Internal black spot, greening, heat necrosis, and sprouting.

22 MARKETING RESEARCH REPORT NO. 996, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

losses were obtained in the stores. Defective tubers in
the 5- or 10-pound consumer units usually were not
removed. Only if a bag was leaking or emitting a foul
odor was it opened in retail, but this rarely happened.

Consumer Samples

Losses in consumer samples increased over losses in
wholesale samples (table 12). Decay was more frequent,
having apparently increased from the time the tubers
were channeled into retail till the end of the 10-day
simulated consumer holding period at 70° F. Loss from
decay was relatively high, 4.9 percent, in 1968. This
trimming loss came mainly from fusarium and bacterial
soft rots. Decay caused losses of 0.7 percent in 1967 and

1.2 percent in 1969. Waste in tubers from mechanical
injury approximated that found in wholesale samples.
The loss from nonparasitic disorders was 0.4 percent for
the completed study. Internal black spot, greening, and
heat necrosis were the most common disorders. Cutting
tubers in consumer samples revealed the presence of
internal disorders that were not evident otherwise.

Estimated Poundage Losses

In projecting sampling losses over Greater New York,
consumer losses in California White Rose potatoes were
estimated at 5.0 million pounds for the three marketing
seasons of 1967-69. Seasonal losses ranged from 1.0 mil-
lion to 2.8 million pounds (fig. 7). Retail losses were
estimated at less than 0.1 million pounds.

LITERATURE CITED

(1) Ceponis, M. J., and Kaufman, J.

1963. Some effects of packaging and merchan-
dising on the quality of McIntosh apples in
New York City. U.S. Dept. Agr. AMS-494,
9 pp.

(2) ____ and Kaufman, J.

1968. Effect of relative humidity on moisture loss
and decay of eastern lettuce prepackaged in
different films. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res.
Serv. ARS 51-18, 9 pp.

(3) Chalutz, E., Maxie, E. C., and Sommer, N.F.

1966. Interaction of gamma _ irradiation and
controlled atmospheres on Botrytis rot of
strawberry fruit. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc.
88: 365-371.

(4) Chandler, W. A.

1968. Preharvest fungicides for peach brown rot
control. U. S. Dept. Agr. Plant Dis. Rptr.
52:695-097.

(5) Daines, R. H., and Snee, R. D.

1969. Control of blue mold apples in storage.

Phytopathology 59: 792-794.
(6) Fountain, J. B., and Hovey, R. M.

1970. Feasibility of shipping Golden Delicious
apples in tray-packed boxes. U. S. Dept.
Agr. Mktg. Res. Rpt. 873, 11 pp.

(7) Friedman, B. A.

1960. Market diseases of fresh fruits and vege-

tables. Econ. Bot. 14: 145-156.

(8) Ginn, J. L.

1959. Prepackaging firm-ripe peaches. U. S. Dept.

Agr. AMS-312, 48 pp.
(9) Gutter, Y.

1969. Comparative effectiveness of benomyl,
thiabendazole, and other antifungal com-
pounds for postharvest control of penicil-
lium decay in Shamouti and Valencia
oranges. U.S. Dept. Agr. Plant Dis. Rptr.
53: 474-478.

(10) Harding, P.R., Jr.

1968. Comparison of fungicide 1991, thiabenda-
zole, and sodium orthophenylphenate for
control of penicillium molds of postharvest
citrus fruits. U.S. Dept. Agr. Plant Dis.
Rptr. 52: 623-625.

(11) Pierson, C.F.

1966. Fungicides for the control of blue-mold rot
of apples. U.S. Dept. Agr. Plant Dis. Rptr.
50:-913-915.

(12) Smith, W. L., Jr., Basset, R. D., Parsons, C. S., and
Anderson, R.E.
1964. Reduction of postharvest decay of peaches
and nectarines with heat treatments. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Mktg. Res. Rpt. 643, 24 pp.
(13) Spalding, D. H., Vaught, H.C., Day, R. H., and
Brown, G.A.
1969. Control of blue mold rot development in

NATURE AND EXTENT OF RETAIL/CONSUMER LOSSES IN APPLES, ORANGES, ... IN GREATER NEW YORK 23

apples treated with heated and unheated
fungicides. U. S. Dept. Agr. Plant Dis. Rptr.
53: 738-742.

(14) United States Department of Agriculture, Con-
sumer and Marketing Service.
1968. Fresh fruit and vegetable unloads in eastern
cities. U. S. Dept. Agr., Consum. and Mktg.
Serv. C&MS-3 (1967), 139 pp.

(15) Consumer and Marketing Service.
1969. Fresh fruit and vegetable unloads in eastern
cities. U. S. Dept. Agr., Consum. and Mktg.
Serv. C&MS-3 (1968), 143 pp.

(16) United States Department of Agriculture, Con-
sumer and Marketing Service.

1970. Fresh fruit and vegetable prices, 1969. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Statis. Bul. 451, 38 pp.

(17) Consumer and Marketing Service.

1970. Fresh fruit and vegetable unloads in eastern
cities. U. S. Dept. Agr., Consum. and Mktg.
Serv. C&MS-3 (1969), 146 pp.

(18) Wells, J. M., and Harvey, J. M.

1970. Combination heat and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitro-
analine treatments for control of rhizopus
and brown rot of peaches, plums and
nectarines. Phytopathology 60:116-120.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973=508-191/2220-73 3-1

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AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

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