Edward F. Johnston

Effect of soil temperatures at harvest on the bruise resistance of potatoes

The effect of soil temperature at harvest time on the bruise resistance of potatoes was determined by dropping a weight onto tubers, by dropping tubers, and by sampling commercially harvested potatoes. The results show that a positive linear relationship exists with bruise resistance increasing as soil temperature increases. Shifts in the regression function during the one season studied suggest that some factor or factors which were influenced by time also affected the bruise resistance rating. However temperature of the tubers (and hence, of the soil) at harvest remains the major determinant of the resistance of potato tubers to bruising.Correlation between the bruise rating and soil temperature, as found in the commercial operation, indicates that the relationship is of a magnitude to be of economic importance. An average of 20% of the Katahdin tubers sampled were bruised in the harvesting process and were a potential loss from marketing channels.ResumenSe examinó el efecto de la temperatura del suelo al tiempo de la cosecha sobre la resistencia de papas al magullado dejando caer un peso sobre los tubérculos, dejando caer los tubérculos y examinando las papas cosechadas comercialmente. Los resultados indican que hay una relación positiva linear entre el incremento de la resistencia al magullado y el incremento de la temperatura del suelo. Cambios en la función de regresión durante una sola estación indican que algún factor o factores que fueron influenciados por el tiempo también afectaron la estimación de la resistencia al magullado. Sinembargo, la temperatura de los tubérculos (y por consiguiente, del suelo) al tiempo de la cosecha queda el mayor determinante de la resistencia de las papas al magullado.La correlación entre la estimación del magullado y la temperatura del suelo, tal como se encontró en la operación comercial, indica que la correla ción es de una magnitud tal que es de importancia comercial. Un promedio de 20% de tubérculos Katahdin examinados fueron danados en el proceso de cosecha y ocnstituyeron una pérdida potencial al mercado.

A determination and estimation of trend in Maine’s fresh potato shipments

In the past two decades there has been considerable variation in the quantities of potatoes produced in Maine and marketed to given states and regions. These variations were found to contain very distinct trends. Production in Maine and the quantities of fresh potatoes shipped to all regions of the U.S. except the Southeast show a strong declining trend. The trend accounted for between 71 and 99 percent of variation for those regions with declining trends.ResumenEn las dos últimas décadas ha habido considerable variación en las cantidades de papas producidas en Maine y vendidas a otros estados y regiones. Se encontró que estas variaciones tenían muy distintas tendencias. La producción en Maine y las cantidades de papa fresca enviadas a todas las regiones de los Estados Unidos excepto el sudeste muestran una fuerte tendencia declinante. El tiempo explicó entre el 71 y 99 porciente de la variación para aquellas regiones con tendencias declinantes.

Treasurer’s report 1978–1979

Receipts during fiscal 1979 were more than the expenses during the year, after two consecutive years when the reverse was true. For the past five years, receipts for conducting the business of the Association (excluding the Speakers Fund and interest earned from savings) have been greater than the cost of operating the Association (again excluding the Speakers Fund and savings) by

Preferred packaging and storage location in relation to quality problems encountered by Northeast fresh potato consumers

3,490, or not quite

Maine potato farms—Size and number

700 per year. The total assets of the Association at the end of fiscal 1979 were

IMPACT OF IMPROVED MARKETING ON MAINE POTATO SALES, REVENUE, AND MARKET SHARE

54,204 as compared to

Honorary Life Members named at 81st Annual Meeting of The PAA

35,531 at the end of fiscal 1974, and

History of The Potato Association of America

42,622 a year ago. The major portion of the increase in the past year stems from monies received for the Speakers Fund, the interest earned from investing monies in savings, and that some Sustaining Members contributions, not received during the last fiscal year, were received in addition to this year s contribution. The total in savings at the end of fiscal 1979 was

Life Members announced

41,880. It should be noted, however, that the funds in the checking account (amounting to

Treasurers report 19781979

10,823 on June 30, 1979) now also draw interest at only slightly less than if they were in the passbook savings account, thereby reducing the impetus to transfer monies from checking to savings frequently. The amount in reserve is approximately equal to a one-year-cost-of-operations level as encouraged by the Executive Committee. An audit of the Treasurer s books for 1978-79 have been made by Michael J. Abbott, CPA, of Thibodeau and Abbott, Accountants.