Circular No. 773 



June 1948 • Washington, D. C. 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Spoilage 1 of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in 

 Rail Shipments Unloaded at New York 

 City, 1935-42 



By James S. Wiant, senior pathologist, and C. 0. Bratley, formerly senior 

 pathologist, Division of Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Administra- 

 tion 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Material and methods 2 



Basic material 2 



Abstracting of certificates 3 



Presentation of data 4 



Fruit inspections 5 



Apples 5 



Apricots 7 



Cherries 8 



Figs 9 



Grapefruit 10 



Grapes 11 



Nectarines 13 



Oranges 13 



Peaches 15 



Pears 16 



Plums and prunes 18 



Pomegranates 19 



Strawberries 19 



Tangerines 20 



Vegetable inspections 21 



' 'Anise" (finocchio) 21 



Artichokes (globe) 22 



Asparagus 23 



Beans (lima) 24 



Beans (snap) 26 



Beets 27 



Page 

 Vegetable inspections — Con. 



Broccoli 29 



Brussels sprouts 30 



Cabbage 31 



Carrots 33 



Cauliflower 34 



Celery 36 



Corn (green) 38 



Cucumbers 38 



Endive (chicory) 40 



Escarole 41 



Lettuce 42 



Muskmelons 44 



Onions 45 



Parsley 47 



Peas 48 



Peppers 49 



Potatoes 51 



Radishes 52 



Rhubarb 53 



Shallots 54 



Spinach 55 



Sweetpotatoes 56 



Tomatoes 56 



Discussion 59 



Summary 61 



1 Spoilage as used in this circular does not include losses due to freezing, bruis- 

 ing, overripeness, and similar factors. Practically all of the spoilage herein 

 referred to consisted of damage from decay; in a few specified instances certain 

 bacterial and fungus diseases and certain nonparasitic diseases and injuries are 

 included with decay. 



