14 CIRCULAR 713, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Cauliflower 



Cauliflower was held in a crate containing 1 dozen heads in a 

 20° F. room for 31 hours. The sides, ends, and bottom of the crate 

 were papered. On removal from the freezing room the leaves and 

 curd were found frozen solid. After 17 hours at 60° there was no 

 evidence of injury to either leaves or curd. After repeated freez- 

 ing and thawing, the edges of the outside leaves became dry and 

 papery and had a bluish color. The curd was not affected, and 

 when cooked it had a normal flavor. 



Cauliflower repeatedly or severely frozen in transit or on the 

 market has a glassy, water-soaked appearance of the pith of the 

 stem and of part or all of the curd. A pronounced odor of spoiled 

 cabbage is given off. At room temperature the water-soaked 

 areas are quickly invaded by soft rot bacteria. 



Celery 



EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS 



Blanched celery was held in a standard crate in a 20° F. room 

 for 7 hours. The crate was papered over the sides, ends, and bot- 

 tom. After 17 hours at 60° all stalks (the entire trimmed plants) 

 showed freezing injury marked by loosening of the epidermis on 

 many of the outer leaf stems. The hearts were unfrozen. Loosen- 

 ing of the epidermis is best demonstrated by twisting the leaf 

 stem, or petiole. 



Unblanched Pascal celery was held in a standard crate, which 

 had its ends, sides, and bottom papered, in a 24° F. room for 72 

 hours. After 3 days at 55° many outside leaf stems of bunches 

 found actually frozen when removed (about one-half of the con- 

 tents of the crate) were water-soaked and slightly slimy; a few 

 showed pink mold rot (watery soft rot) . Many leaf stems that ap- 

 peared normal on the outside were water-soaked and discolored on 

 the inner surface. Many of the leaf stems, discolored and not 

 discolored, showed wrinkling of the epidermis when twisted. 



No flabbiness or drooping of the leaf stems was observed in 

 either the blanched or the unblanched celery. 



MARKET OBSERVATIONS 



Celery found frozen on the market frequently shows flabby or 

 limp outer leaf stems after it thaws. Furthermore, the epidermis 

 not only becomes loosened but sometimes it peels off. The loosen- 

 ing is often more pronounced in the upper nodes or branches of 

 the leaf stem than in the main leaf stem itself. 



Green Corn 



Green corn was held in a bushel basket in an 18° F. room for 120 

 hours. The basket was papered around the sides and was covered 

 with a regular basket lid. After about 2 hours the outside husks 

 of the top-layer ears were found frozen but the inside husks were 

 not. After 48 hours only the outside husks of the uppermost ears 



