Cantaloupe cultivar variability from various U.S. regions and growing seasons within a given year was evaluated. As expected, there was often considerable quality and volatile variation among cultivars. Eight of 11 cultivars met the standard U.S. No. 1 requirement for degrees Brix (> or =9), and in most cultivars, degrees Brix declined during fresh-cut storage at 4 degrees C. Hunter L (loss of ...

This study investigates the potential impacts of food safety outbreaks on domestic shipments, imports, and prices of the produce industry. Three case studies were analyzed to assess these potential impacts: the cantaloupe outbreak of March–April 2008, the spinach outbreak of September 2006, and the tomato outbreak of June–July 2008. Data-determined historical decompositions were conducted to pr...

We combined two protein-marking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a predator gut content ELISA to monitor the movement and feeding activity of commercially-purchased Hippodamia convergens Guèrin-Mèneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under realistic field conditions during two field seasons in central Arizona. The proteinmarking ELISAs were used to differentiate released H. converg...

The following is an up-to-date compilation of peer-reviewed research directed at microbial food safety risks, modes of contamination transfer, and disinfection or other risk reduction interventions for cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. It was originally intended to support an updated, industry –oriented “white paper” on practical food safety guidance for melon growers, shippers, handlers, p...

ELISA techniques were used to detect imidacloprid in guttation fluid of young cantaloupe plants in Arizona. Imidacloprid was detected at up to 4.1 microg/ml (ppm) in a coincidental guttation collection 3 d after a top label rate soil application and at 37 microg/ml one d after a separate top label rate soil application study. These imidacloprid titers exceed reported median oral toxicities for ...

Econometric theory is like an exquisitely balanced French recipe, spelling out precisely with how many turns to mix the sauce, how many carats of spice to add, and for how many seconds to bake the mixture at exactly 474 degrees of temperature. But when the statistical cook turns to the raw materials, he finds that hearts of cactus fruits are unavailable, so he substitutes cantaloupe; where the ...

BACKGROUND The purposes of this paper are two fold. First, to describe an approach used to identify fruits and vegetables to target for a child focused dietary change intervention. Second, to evaluate the concept of fruit and vegetable changeability and feasibility of applying it in a community setting. METHODS Steps for identifying changeable fruits and vegetables include (1) identifying a d...

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to determine the growth kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes, with and without cold-adaption, on fresh-cut cantaloupe under different storage temperatures. Fresh-cut samples, spot inoculated with a 4-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes (∼3.2 log CFU/g), were exposed to constant storage temperatures held at 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 °C. All growth curves of L. mono...