28 



PRECOOLING 



Methods of Investigation. 



We have a system of electrical thermometers which are in- 

 serted in the containers in which the product is shipped. In 

 fact, we do this way. We use what we call the commercial 

 pack, the farmer's own pack, and as he packs we insert ther- 

 mometers which are electrically connected by means of a 

 cable. For instance, one of these containers is packed by 

 Mr. John Jones, and we place a thermometer in one of the 

 outside heads and a thermometer in one of the inside heads 

 in the container, and we place that in a certain position in 

 the car. We have carefully packed packages, the heads of 

 which have been very carefully handled and the heads care- 

 fully packed in the container, and a set of thermometers are 

 placed in that. A series of these packages is placed in dif- 

 ferent parts of the car, because in a refrigerator car the tem- 

 perature varies. It is no criterion to determine merely the 

 temperature of the outside heads. With very delicate stuff 

 like lettuce, it is an easy matter to freeze it, and we have to 

 work carefully. Therefore, in order to reduce the tempera- 

 ture of these heads which are in the middle of the container, 

 it often times takes several hours of careful work to avoid 

 freezing the outside heads and still get the temperature of 

 the inside heads low enough so that they will carry. So you 

 see the importance of the type of container in which these 

 products are packed. If packed tightly, as in the ordinary 

 package, it may take four, five or six hours. That all adds 

 to the expense. If you substitute a different container, you 

 might be able to save half of the time in precooling, which 

 cuts the expense almost in two. Those are problems that in- 

 terlock. 



I would say this. Go slow. We are not far enough out 

 of the woods yet to advise you to go into the precooling work 

 or to say what type of plant to put up, or to put up any plant 

 at all. 



A Member: Plans are under way to equip a large num- 

 ber of these portable plants and to establish large precooling 

 plants where the volume of business will warrant it. 



