ACID ON TOMATOES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1939, Page 8

ACID ON TOMATOES

METHOD OF CLEANING FRUIT. The use of a weak hydrochloric acid solution to remove spray residues from tomatoes has become more popular in the last two seasons. It is replacing the old method of wiping, and is recommended by the Australian Department of Agriculture. Recently, however, some growers have become concerned about the burning of their tomatoes by the acid, and the matter has been investigated by the chemists’ branch of the department. Mr L. J. Wilson, one of the analysts, now recommends a procedure which has been proved in tests to clean the fruit efficiently and leave no pitting or other damage. Mr Wilson states that the damage has been due mainly to failure to remove the acid. His recommendations are as follow: Dip the fruit, in a half-bushel case with gaps between the slats, for a minute or so in a tank of acid solution (one gallon of concentrated acid to 100 gallons of water). Drain the tomatoes, for example on wire netting, then dip them in the same way in a lime bath, made up in the proportion of 11b of hydrated lime to 40 gallons of water, and again drain. Finally, pass the. tomatoes through a water bath.