11, ''May bring about changes in timing of harvest period. May be able to harvest 
produce when more mature." 
12. ''Could harvest vine ripe and have no deterioration, '' 
13. "Could mean more prepackaging at shipping point. '' 
Question 11. --List additional questions, suggestions and comments that you may 
have pertaining to radiation pasteurization? 
The following comments and suggestions represent survey answers: 
1. ''Because research dealing with the process as it applies to fresh produce is so 
limited, it is difficult to make definite statements about the likely success or failure of it. 
The problems of moisture loss, recontamination, packaging, etc., need more research, "' 
2. ''Would increase grower costs; market would not absorb costs and would force 
many out of business." 
3. 'The end result must be proven beneficial. Then, the most economically sound 
firms adopt first and others are forced to follow if they want to meet competition. " 
4, "Assuming a facility costs $500,000, this would not stop growers. For lettuce, 
vacuum cooling was adopted quite rapidly. So I feel that investment costs would not deter 
development if the process helps. Costs are important, but it is uneconomical not to 
adopt a new process if it increases total returns."' 
5. ''Process must not slow down production, must have a facility that will run at 
least 8,000 boxes of oranges ina 12-hour day." 
6. "Cost of sucha process is relatively meaningless because supply and demand 
sets the price at the market. We cannot tell how the process will go over until we try it."' 
7. 'We are always looking for something better. Oranges and grapefruit can best be 
stored on the tree. They hold up pretty well now. Commodities like strawberries and 
others with high spoilage losses would seem to benefit most from radiation pasteuriza- 
tion." 
8. ''This process should be very helpful for tomatoes, watermelons and cantaloups 
because they cannot be frozen under present technology except for frozen watermelon 
cubes that must be eaten before thawed almost. The big benefits would be realized from 
spoilage loss reduction and quality maintenance," 
9. "This process should be considerd for natural dried fruits, especially raisins, 
where there is a lot of spoilage loss." 
10. ''Make very sure the public is educated because if people get scared of the 
process it may ruin the industry. Get the American Medical Association in addition to 
the Food and Drug Administration to endorse the process because otherwise if one 
doctor states publicly that the process is harmful to health it could be disastrous to the 
produce industry." 
11. ''An educational program should be extended over a period of time rather than a 
one shot deal." 
12. ''Get moving as soon as possible on a pilot plant program with two or three highly 
perishable items including strawberries to see what the retailer's experience would be 
in the marketing of such commodities." 
13. ''Considerable produce buying is impulse buying. If the commodity looks good, 
the consumer will buy it. By maintaining quality, radiation pasteurization would be very 
helpful in securing impulse sales and at the same time consumption would be increased."! 
14. "The process should help growers considerably because it would eliminate or 
substantially reduce the amount of rejected produce upon government inspection at the 
terminal markets. "' 
15. "If spoilage loss is cut down, then buyers will reorder more with confidence." 
16. ''Could ship more mature fruit, get better selection at packinghouse, better 
quality at retail, and higher prices to growers and shippers if radiation processing is 
adopted." 
11 
