PREFACE

The first symposium arranged by this working group under the title 'Quality of Vegetables' was held in Lund, Sweden, during June 11 to 15, 1979, by the Department of Vegetable Crops at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden.

The symposium had 56 participants coming from 16 countries which indicates the world-wide interest in the quality of vegetables.

Many interesting and well prepared papers covering many different efforts for improving vegetable quality were presented during the symposium. The discussions during the sessions and as well as during the excursions also contributed to the value of this symposium, and the friendly and constructive atmosphere among the participants gave the feeling of genuine fellowship within this working group.

We wish to thank the Ministry of Agriculture in Sweden, the Municipality of Lomma, ICA Frukt & Grönsaker A.B., Kooperativa Förbundet, Trädgårdshallen-Mäster Grön and Trädgårdsnäringens Riksförbund for financial support to the symposium.

Professor J.E. Hårdh, the first chairman of this working group, had decided to retire from this post at the General Assembly held during the symposium. Dr. Torsten Nilsson, Sweden, was elected as the new chairman. The secretary of the working group is Mr. Hans J. Rosenfeld, Norway.

The next symposium will probably take place in 1981, either in The Soviet Union or in The Netherlands.

Torsten Nilsson
Convenor of the
symposium

OPENING ADDRESS ISHS-SYMPOSIUM "QUALITY OF VEGETABLES"
SWEDEN/LUND 11TH JUNE 1979

Mr. President,
Mr. Chairman,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

With pleasure I would like to say something during the official opening-ceremony here today.

"Quality is the final result of our investments in horticultural research, education and extension, good farming, modern handling and marketing and also our investments in an excellent presentation as well".

In this philosophy quality is the final expression of different components, of which the most important pillars are:

• fundamental and applied research
• practical knowledge
• effective storage and handling and an attractive presentation during the marketing period.

The programme of our symposium shows that the organizing committee must have an open mind to this, more or less abstract definition of quality.

Maximum results will be realized, if the combination of the components stated above is at an optimum. That optimum will of course depend on specific problems and possibilities of our wide range of vegetables. It is important to realize that each type out of this wide range of vegetables calls for it's own approach when analyzing it's quality.

Let me now select some highlights out of the many possibilities whenever research on quality is discussed.

If we follow the schedule of our symposium, then I must be short about the nutritional value of vegetables, since I know hardly anything about this subject.

The only particular knowledge I have about the nutritional value of vegetables is that onions are very healthy and that garlic is even better for one's bloodcirculation …..

Considering my lack of knowledge on this matter, I trust we have some fine specialists dealing with this complicated field or research, in this new working group of our Society.

Another interesting subject is the composition of tomato-juice: we can nearly speak about a pure vitamin injection when drinking the juice, so this seems to be very healthy for our condition.

The third topic of the different papers for the next days is the influence of the soil, different nutrients, etc., on the quality and on the chemical composition.

Well ladies and gentlemen, that theme is too complex to spend only a few words on it during such a short speech. However, genetical and breeding research is more in my line of knowledge, so I would like to give you some examples on this subject.

A quite spectacular one of quality improvements is the introduction of new hybrid-varieties, like different types of cabbages, for Brussels sprouts, witloof chicory, and so on.

Speaking in more general terms about the immens importance of plant breeding to the world population, I would like you to remember the sayings of Jonathan Swift in "Gullivars Travels" from 1726, namely:

"And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better for mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole range of people that just only is speaking about it".

For methods of testing and evaluation of the sensory quality please remember my earlier remark on nutritional value of vegetables.

Retaining quality during the trade, storage and marketing of vegetables, is historically seen a rather new field of research, being closely related to recent chemical and technological findings.

Interesting items are:

• The influence of growth-regulators, in particular as far as the standing ability is concerned, for example for the production of pickling cucumbers (the Dutch concept of Dr Wiebosch of our Research Station at Alkmaar);
• Dr Wiebosch also achieved very promising results for different types of beans, especially on snapbeans for processing.
• The use of some regulators to stop the initial sprouting process in onions.
• Stopping initial sprouting of onions by applying a very low dosis of -rays within a maximum period of about 6 weeks after harvesting.
• Artificial pre-cooling of our "leavy-vegetables".
• General improvements on modern mechanical cooling in bulk storage.
• Recent conditioning with Controlled Air-storage techniques and applying other modern storage and conditioning principles; all being, very important to further improving the quality of our vegetables.

As far as this theme is concerned we should not forget, however, that the first steps to obtaining a good quality are made in the field and during the harvesting period, as we can learn from our friend John Bleadale, with his publications about: "Control of size and yield in relation to the harvest date of vegetables".

More generally speaking about quality, there are three very important, basic principles:

• We must improve the so called "standing ability" as much as possible. In my opinion, continuous breeding research in this direction has to be done, for example with spinach, with green peas, etc.
• Vegetable harvesters can still be improved. For example pickling cucumbers-harvesters but also harvesters for root-vegetables.
• Further improvements in the whole range of "handling machinery" seem to be necessary, since up until now this machinery causes still too much serious damage on our vegetables.

Being specialized in field production of vegetables, I do not feel qualified to discuss environmental effects, but I trust sufficient attention to this subject will be given during this symposium.

As a final remark about quality I would like to state that there has to be a practical relation between quality and price.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope that this opening may be the start for a very succesful and profitable meeting for all of us. With this good wishes I declare this symposium for open!

Thank you very much for your attention.

Dr. Ir. J. van Kampen
Chairman
Section Vegetables
of the ISHS