FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22399, 12 May 1938, Page 15

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

CHILLED BEEP PROSPECTS FRUIT STORAGE RESEARCH (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. April 21. The fresh beef trade in Great Britain has been passing through a troublesome time, and the retailer has become even more dependent upon good quality chilled beef from overseas. The new grading system adopted by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has done much to establish confidence in the Dominion’s supplies, and if only good condition upon arrival can be assured there is no reason why New Zealand chilled beef should not eventually attain popularity equal to that accorded to the lamb and pork from the Dominion. The effect of foot-and-mouth disease slaughterings is now being felt by feeders, who are having to pay almost phenomenal prices for stores, in spite of the time of the year, and, unfortunately, owing to the heavy killings of calves about 18 months ago, Ireland cannot make up the deficiency. Once the season for lamb has ended the wholesalers anticipate a much increased demand for chilled beef of all descriptions, and it is probable that the International Beef Conference will have to consider a readjustment of the import quotas to permit bigger consignments from the Argentine and the Dominions. At the moment New Zealand chilled beef is experiencing keen competition from light-weight Brazilian chilled hindquarters and Canada s shipments of chilled beef to Smithfield. From an initial venture Canadian chilled beef, which so far has been of outstanding quality and landed .in splendid condition, looks like proving the strongest rival to the Argentine commodity. In the meantime, the acute shortage of veal calves has given a big fillip to the demand for frozen bagged veal for the catering trade, and this demand will most likely be maintained for some months to come.

Competition from Dominions Speaking at the annual meeting In London of the Smithfleld and Argentine Meat Company. Ltd.. Sir James Caird referred to the increasing competition that Argentine chilled beef was meeting from New and Australian supplies, and went on to refer to Canada’s recent entry to the trade as advancing that competition still further. In spite of that competition, he said. Argentine chilled beef sun maintained its exc&len t and prices on Smithfleld during 1937 averaged 3d per lb higher than in. 1936. He was of opinion tha Ll h f_ b A ß .i s A ° r which the prices for cattle in the Argentine were fixed, namely, on Smitnfield realisations, was erroneous in view of the considerable rises m the costs of coal, freights, stores, etc., and of the very serious deprivation in the values of corned beef, Jddes, and fats. The abnormal demand for chilled beef in 1937, he continued, was already showing signs of abatement. A-great deal of concern had been expressed on the proposed erection of a national frlgoriflco in Buenos Aires at a cost of When it was remembered that, oni ac count of the reduction in their quotas, the majority of the Argentine fleos were working at under 75 per cent of their capacity, the project was 'n unsound economical P r 9P° s i , * i( l! # ; That the subsidy would require to be renewed, with the cattle prices now ruling, appeared inevitable.

Transport of Apples The latest investigations carried out in connexion with fruit storage temperatures Indicate that ifthc bcstconditions are to prevail in transport from overseas to the United Kingdom, the time may come .when storage chambers afloat will be kept different temperatures for different varieties of apples. Tests have shown that some varieties keep better at 35 degrees to 40 degrees F. than at 32 degrees F The internal breakdown which sometimes occurs in Jonathans and Ncwtowns is attributed to a temperature which is too low for ih®® 6 varieties. On the other hand, IVinesaps can stand lower temperatures than Newtowns or Jonathans. Although it is not done at present, it is suggested that it would be an advantage to keep certain chambers at set temperatures at which to hold the different varieties of apples. It has been found that the adjustment of the storage temperature to the variety of pears is quite as important as in the case of apples. TTiese results agree with the latest American research, which also established that apples grown in different parts of the country and under different conditions require different storage temperatures. In California, for instance. Newtowns are held in storage at 40 degrees F. The general consensus of opinion is that the cold air battery system is preferable to the direct-expansion or brine grid methods for fruit storage. It Is pointed out that in the case of direct-expansion systems the moisture content of the air Is usually 89 per cent at 32 degrees F. Moisture is absorbed from the fruit, and it is difficult to control the humidity conditions, whereas the use of a fine spray in connexion with the Ingoing air with the forced draught cooling method enables the relative humidity to be adjusted within very fine limits. Incidentally, the latter system, combined with carbon dioxide gas control, is now the universally accepted practice In the case of land fruit stores. The Food Investigation Board has extended . its programme of research in connexion with the transport and storage of eggs. In a recent report, Dr. T. Moran states that it has been estab-