RADIATION- PASTEURIZING FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND OTHER FRESH 

 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: ESTIMATES OF COSTS AND BENEFITS 



By John H> Droge, Agricultural Economist 



Marketing Economics Division 



Economic Research Service 



INTRODUCTION 



Spoilage losses in marketing fresh produce are substantial despite dramatic 

 improvements in handling practices, containerization, and use of chemical decay 

 deterrentso Results of technical research now in progress indicate that low-dose 

 radiation- pasteurizing holds real promise for some commodities as a method of 

 reducing spoilage and increasing shelf-life while retaining fresh product qualities,, l/ 



No pilot produce-irradiating facilities have been constructed, and no market 

 tests have been made for radiation-pasteurized produce,, But technical research 

 involving the use of small-scale irradiators has advanced to where it is possible 

 to make meaningful preliminary estimates of radiation^ pasteurizing costs,, 



In the study reported here, specific objectives were (1) the development of 

 preliminary cost estimates for radiation-pasteurization of fresh strawberries; (2) 

 estimation of money values of some important benefits expected to result from 

 radiation- pasteurization of fresh strawberries; (3) development of preliminary 

 estimates of the economic feasibility of radiation- pasteurizationof fresh strawberries; 

 and (4) an evaluation of the likely impact of this new method of food preservation on the 

 structure of produce markets and methods of marketing. 



Attention was centered on the economic feasibility of radiation- pasteurizing fresh 

 strawberries because for the other products considered-^peaches, tomatoes, oranges, 

 and grapefruit--technical feasibility studies of radiation-pasteurization were still in 

 progress and the results were not available. 



Recent technological developments have outdated published information on costs 

 of food irradiation from ionizing energy,, For this reason, much of the technological 

 and cost information used in this study was obtained by informal discussions with 

 engineers, food technologists, and other specialists directly concerned with food 

 irradiation research and developments (See preface for list of organizations re- 

 presented.) 



This is the second report on the economic feasibility of radiation- pasteurizing 

 of fresh strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, oranges, and grapefruit An earlier 



1/ Radiation-pasteurizing should present no health hazard,, In February 1963, 

 the Food and Drug Administration cleared radiation- sterilized bacon in its first 

 irradiated-food petition,, Sterilization requires a much higher dosage than pas- 

 teurization. Food additive petitions need to be submitted for any use of radiation 

 in either sterilization or pasteurization of foods if such use is not covered by specific 

 regulations. The only petition filed for radiation- pasteurizing fresh fruits or veg= 

 etables was for oranges and lemons (Federal Register, Dec. 18, 1963). Additional 

 data are being sought before action is taken on this petition. Next fall, the Atomic 

 Energy Commission plans to file a petition for radiation- pasteurizing strawberries. 



