THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1943. HOME DEHDRATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3299, 13 August 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. "Public Service.” FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1943. HOME DEHDRATION

It is satisfactory to learn that in the planning of two additional dehydration plants for vegetables, similar to the proposed plant at Pukekohe, recognition is being given to the post-war possibilities of this process. The Minister of Marketing has stated that the works are to be built “with a view to their use after the emergency period has passed.” That is the only commonsense policy, for it seems evident that the dehydration of foodstuffs by improved methods developed during the past two or' three years has come to stay and may grow into a great and valuable export industry for food producing countries, such as this Dominion. •

Particular care should therefor be taken to ensure that dehydration facilities — which should be available as close as possible to growing areas—are evenly distributed with an eye to the future as well as to wartime requirements. Meanwhile, another aspect of dehydration is rousing public interest in the United States and should not be overlooked in this country. Simple blueprints and materials for the manufacture of small household dehydrators, which, it is said, can be built by a handy man for about £5 apiece, are being released by the War Purchase Board. As a beginning 100,000 are to be manufactured by private enterprise and marketed, this year through the usual retail channels.

„ This suggests an interesting possibility by way of home dehydration in New Zealand, carried out in conjunction with the campaign for greater production of home-grown vegetables. Successful dehydration of homegrown supplies, for family consumption out of season, could represent an enormous aggregate economy and, for the duration of the war at least, might become a means of conserving much greater quantities of vegetables for the overseas fighting forces.