Perfect Produce
LOOKING INSIDE FRUIT with X-rays helps prevent damaged fruit from reaching markets. Using a medical x-ray machine, Bill Tollner, above, can grade produce and help farmers and distributors learn which fruits are already damaged and will deteriorate in storage. When radiation and food products come in contact, many shoppers voice safety concerns at first. Tollner said the radiation levels used in this process are lower than the levels used in dental X-rays. “The canning industry uses X-rays to detect metal fragments to insure safety,” he said. “With this process, I’m using them to improve the quality and safety of food before consumers buy it.” “It occurs in Red Delicious apples. If you eat the apple right away, it has a delicious taste,” he said. “You just can’t store them, which creates a big problem for apple processors.” Water-core apples develop dots near the veins. Over time, the dots turn brown. Tollner found the X-ray equipment can easily detect water core in apples. It can “see” many other defects in carrots, onions and celery, too. “For example, some onion diseases cause air gaps between the rings,” he said. “The X-rays clearly show these gaps well before the onion shows visible signs of disease.” “One of our food scientists had been working on water core problems in apples,” he said. “He asked me to use the X-ray equipment on them.” Water core is a condition that causes apples’ internal moisture to increase. Why use X-rays? S. Omahen, UGA CAES “With apples, bruises are a big problem,” Tollner said. “We can detect old bruises before they can be seen by the human eye.” An engineer with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tollner was using X-rays to study soil layers when a colleague suggested he try it with food products. Research proves its safety Using medical X-ray machines, Bill Tollner can detect imperfections in fruits and vegetables before anyone can see them.
You search for the best apples, handle them with kid gloves and still throw out half when the hidden bruises show up a few days later. You’d need X-ray vision to pick only the perfect apples. That’s exactly what University of Georgia researchers concluded. So they developed a new grading system to make sure the bad apples never reach supermarket shelves. How Scientists See Inside Fruit The fruit industry wants the systems “They’ve developed an optical grader. We’d like to combine the two machines,” he said. “Eventually, we’d like to see apples and other food items come through the sorter where the X-rays will find the internal defects and the optical viewer the surface defects.” Mechanical grading systems like these could help food processors deal with labor shortages. “We’re coming to a point in our country where labor to inspect food products just isn’t there,” Tollner said. “People feel they have more stimulating things to do than inspect food for minimum wage.” This method helps the fruit industry. S. Omahen, UGA CAES This new grading method could be especially useful for apple and onion processors who commonly store their products. “The whole goal is to keep the product on the shelf longer,” Tollner said. “Using this equipment, processors can pull out bad fruit before storing it side by side with good fruit.” The new X-ray grading system has received good reviews from apple processors in New York and West Virginia. “I plan to present the new process to Georgia’s Vidalia onion growers this month at an upcoming conference,” he said. Tollner is also working with U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers at the USDA Fruit Research Station in West Virginia. CHECKING THE DATA on fruit in an X-ray machine allows Bill Tollner, above, to look inside the fruit without cutting into it. This equipment is the same as used for medical x-rays. 
Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE Alternext: VPS) announced its financial results for the first half and second quarter of its fiscal year 2009 and that it will file these results on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Total sales for the first six months of fiscal year 2009 decreased 4% to $32.3 million from $33.8 million for the comparable period a year ago. Gross profit decreased 11% in the first half of 2009 to $17 million from $19 million in the comparable period a year earlier. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 52% from 56% for the respective periods. Net income decreased to $327,000 in the first six months of fiscal year 2009 compared to $983,000 in the first six months of fiscal year 2008.Total sales for the three months ending April 30, 2009 decreased 4% to $16.8 million from $17.4 million for the comparable period a year ago. Gross profit decreased 10% for the second quarter of 2009 to $8.8 million from $9.8 million in the comparable period a year earlier. Gross profit, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 53% in the second quarter of 2009 from 56% for the second quarter a year ago. Net income decreased for the three months ended April 30, 2009 from $232,000 compared to $471,000 for the comparable period last year.”Although our business has been negatively affected by the recessionary economic environment, we remain profitable despite experiencing lower margins in the first half of the year for most of our product lines,” said Peter Baker, C.E.O. of Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. “We expect to be able to take advantage of new opportunities that our distribution base presents in future quarters including fully integrating the Blue Hills Spring Water Company acquisition into our Boston market operations. However, we expect fiscal 2009 to be less profitable than fiscal 2008,” Baker concluded. Blue Hills is better known by its popular brand Monadnock Mountain Spring Water.Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE Alternext: VPS), the largest independent home and office distributor of its kind in the United States, markets water, coffee and other home and office refreshment products throughout the Northeast through its subsidiary Crystal Rock LLC. The Company bottles and distributes natural spring water under the Vermont Pure(R) brand and purified water with minerals added under the Crystal Rock(R) label. The majority of its sales are derived from a route distribution system that delivers water in 3- to 5-gallon reusable and recyclable bottles. The Company continues to set high standards in the bottled water industry through its technical innovation, commitment to the environment and by integrating its family roots into relationships with employees and customers. More information is available athttp://www.crystalrock.com(link is external).VERMONT PURE HOLDINGS, LTDResults of Operations (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended: Three Months Ended: April 30, April 30, April 30, April 30, 2009 2008 2009 2008(000 s $)Sales $32,308 $33,823 $16,756 $17,438Income from operations $1,893 $3,124 $1,060 $1,578Net Income $327 $983 $232 $471Basic net earnings per share $0.02 $0.05 $0.01 $0.02Diluted net earnings per share $0.02 $0.05 $0.01 $0.02Basic Wgt. Avg. Shares Out.(000 s) 21,521 21,619 21,541 21,624Diluted Wgt Avg. Shares Out.(000 s) 21,521 21,619 21,541 21,624Note: This press release contains forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements, including integration of acquisitions, ability to sustain and manage growth, changing market conditions, and other risks detailed in the company s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.SOURCE Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. June 15, 2009.
The agency said it was still working on a proposal to broaden its feed ban so that ruminant protein would be banned from all animal feeds, not just ruminant feeds. The BSE case, Canada’s fifth, was discovered on Apr 16. In announcing the closing of its investigation of the case on Jun 16, the CFIA said the case fell within the same “geographic cluster” as the other four. It involved a 6-year-old purebred Holstein dairy cow in southwestern British Columbia. May 1, 2005, CIDRAP News story “USDA seeks Canadian-born cattle in BSE probe” Jun 20, 2006 (CIDRAP News) Canada’s latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, probably resulted from contaminated feed, which might have linked the case with the nation’s previous one, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The fourth BSE case, according to Reuters, involved a Holstein-Hereford dairy cow in Alberta, which is a source of feed for British Columbia livestock. See also: “Investigators also identified a feed ingredient supplier common to this case and Canada’s fourth BSE animal, confirmed on January 22, 2006,” the report continued. “This potential link suggests that all of Canada’s BSE cases fall within the same geographic cluster, which is reflective of feed sourcing, production, and distribution patterns.”
Given its age, the British Columbia cow was born after Canada in 1997 banned putting protein from cows and other ruminants into cattle feed. But the investigation, according to the CFIA, found high compliance with the ban. “Such findingswhich have been observed during other investigations and regular inspections of feed mills, renderers, and retailers across the countryconfirm the presence of limited opportunities for contamination during feed manufacture, transportation, storage, and use,” the CFIA said. The CFIA said it had identified 148 animals linked with the infected cow, including its herd mates and recent offspring. Of those, 22 live animals were located; all tested negative for BSE. One additional cow is pregnant and will be tested once it has calved. The CFIA examined records concerning feed to which the infected animal would have been exposed early in its life, when cattle are most likely to contract BSE. “While a specific source of infection was not found, investigators determined that vehicles and equipment used to ship and receive a variety of ingredients likely contaminated cattle feed with the BSE agent,” the agency said. Of the remaining cows, 77 had died or been slaughtered, 15 were exported to the United States, and 33 were untraceable, according to the news release. The US Department of Agriculture said in April it had found one of the animals exported to the United States and was looking for the 14 others.
Comment David Luiz outlines what motivated him to join Arsenal from Chelsea Arsenal have maximum points from their opening two Premier League matches (Picture: Getty)Speaking to Arsenal’s website, Luiz said: ‘I am a guy with ambition and that is why I moved. I could choose a comfortable zone and get money and be cool and that is it, but I like a new challenge and new things in my life.AdvertisementAdvertisement‘This is what gives me oxygen and give me motivation and also to really enjoy this moment of my life. One day football will finish and you have to try to do things and improve every day, as one day I will miss football.‘I am trying to be first honest with my heart and honest in the way that to try to feel new things. I am so happy here as since the first day I felt this welcome.‘This is a big club and I want to be here and see it shine – on the pitch and outside. This is my motivation every day.‘That is why I left my family when I was 14 to try to do something around the world and I’m going to try and do my best here.’More: FootballRio Ferdinand urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop Manchester United starChelsea defender Fikayo Tomori reveals why he made U-turn over transfer deadline day moveMikel Arteta rates Thomas Partey’s chances of making his Arsenal debut vs Man CityAfter linking up with Arsenal on transfer deadline day, Unai Emery named Luiz on the bench against Newcastle United before handing him his debut in the meeting with Burnley on Saturday.Luiz demonstrated his confidence in his ability early on the game, playing a risky pass across his own six-yard-box and enjoyed a largely solid debut as Arsenal won 2-1.The Brazilian’s new side are second in the table after collecting maximum points from their two matches while Chelsea remain winless following their 1-1 draw with Leicester City.More: Arsenal FCArsenal flop Denis Suarez delivers verdict on Thomas Partey and Lucas Torreira movesThomas Partey debut? Ian Wright picks his Arsenal starting XI vs Manchester CityArsene Wenger explains why Mikel Arteta is ‘lucky’ to be managing Arsenal Metro Sport ReporterMonday 19 Aug 2019 10:09 amShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link705Shares David Luiz started his first Arsenal game against Burnley on Saturday (Picture: Getty)David Luiz has stated that his decision to leave Chelsea and join Arsenal this month was motivated by a desire to take on a new challenge.The 32-year-old spent six-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge – with a two-season stint at PSG sandwiched in between – winning six major honours in total with the Blues.Luiz played a key role for Chelsea last season, playing 36 times in the Premier League and starting in their Europa League final win over Arsenal in May under previous boss Maurizio Sarri.It was reported that Luiz decided to leave Chelsea after failing to be given assurances of a first-team football under Frank Lampard and he suggested that played a role in his decision to move.ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Advertisement
Meanwhile, Patient No. 4 (Western Visayas Patient No. 57) is a 50-year-old male form Candoni town. He had history of travel to Finland. He arrived in the country on March 17. Patient No. 3 (Western Visayas Patient No. 56)is a 38-year-old man, who traveled from The Netherlands and arrived in thePhilippines on March 24. He is a resident of Silay City. BACOLOD City – Two overseas Filipino workers(OFWs), who were recently repatriated in Negros Occidental, tested positive forSARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Meanwhile, despite of the four cases in NegrosOccidental, the national Inter Agency Task Force did not included the provinceas well as this capital city for an extension of the enhance communityquarantine. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson announced the latestconfirmed cases Thursday night, saying the two patients were on strictisolation at the Provincial Healing Center – a patient care center in E.B.Magalona town. “Both are OFWs (whom) we allowed to comehome. They came from Cebu and passed by our port in Escalante City. They areboth asymptomatic, which means they don’t have symptoms,” Lacson said in astatement. This city has recorded eight confirmedCOVID-19 cases. They were among the group of 35 OFWs whotraveled from the port of Tabuelan town in Cebu and arrived in Barcelona portin Escalante City. There were hundreds of specimen fromBacolod and Negros Occidental pending for confirmation at the Western VisayasMedical Center in Iloilo City./PN
Congratulations to former Batesville Track standout Chris Giesting on being selected as The Atlantic Coast Conference’s Men’s Indoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete Of The Year.Chris Giesting ACC Indoor T & F S-A Of The YearSubmitted by Batesville AD Mark Ferguson.
CRYSTAL, Mich. (Aug. 1) – After disaster was averted, Johnny DeYoung raced to the Allstar Performance IMCA Modified checkers Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway.Jerry Hunt’s engine had given up the ghost coming down the front stretch in front of most of the field but everyone except Hunt was able to continue.Kody Johnson took the point but gave it up to DeYoung a few laps in and he went on to cruise to the win.Johnson was second and Mitchell Hunt third.
The Australian saw his opponent take the first frame, but fought back to keep alive his hopes of winning his first main ranking event of the season. The former world champion will fancy his chances of going all the way with the likes of Judd Trump, Mark Selby and John Higgins all out, but admitted the short matches make things unpredictable. Press Association Neil Robertson swept into the quarter-finals of the Players Tour Championship Finals with a 4-1 win over Barry Hawkins in Galway.
He said on worldsnooker.com: “I can’t put myself under too much pressure because they are short matches and there are still a lot of great players here. Even though a lot of the seeds have been beaten, the depth in snooker is very good.” Free-scoring Ding Junhui won his second-round match 4-3 against Anthony McGill thanks to breaks of 101, 133 and 130. Marco Fu saw off Ali Carter 4-1, while Kurt Maflin edged out Rod Lawler 4-3 and Ben Woollaston saw off Joe Perry by the same scoreline. 
Police arrested a Boynton Beach man after finding more than two dozen pipe bombs, including some that contained nails, screws and metal pellets.34-year-old Gregory Haasze is facing 26 felony counts of making, possessing and placing a destructive device after his arrest Wednesday night in Palm Beach County.Officers had been called to a dead-end street after reports of an explosion, Boynton Beach police said in court records. Investigators found remnants of an exploded pipe bomb and several undetonated bombs along the roadway.They sealed off the area and the Palm Beach County sheriff’s bomb squad disabled the devices. A neighbor told them a man named Greg who lived nearby makes bombs and sometimes detonates them in vacant lots. Officers also found a box in a trash bin with Haasze’s name on it and found several bombs and gunpowder.They say Haasze soon approached officers and told them he was why they were there. Investigators say he told them he had been making bombs for years and had made some of the found devices for this past Fourth of July. He said he never meant to hurt anyone, saying he put the screws, nails and pellets in the bombs to remove tree stumps.He was being held Thursday at the Palm Beach County jail on $26,000 bond. The Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office had no immediate comment.
Senators Michaela Murphy and Meagan Lane speak at Tuesday’s senate meeting. USG unanimously approved a special committee to amend the diversity fund after student groups felt that the fund lacked accessibility. (Emily Smith | Daily Trojan)The Undergraduate Student Government met Tuesday to move forward on one of this semester’s pressing issues: amending the student government diversity fund. In 2015, the different cultural organizations at USC, including the Black Student Assembly, Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment and several others, pressured USC to endow the fund, which promised $50,000 a year to address issues regarding diversity and inclusion on campus.Last month, the Daily Trojan reported on a USG Senate meeting, during which the amendment was first proposed. Many senators — along with various groups including the SAGE, BSA and the Environmental Student Assembly — felt that the fund lacked accessibility in its current state and required an amendment in order to address their concerns.The first meeting resulted in a long, combative debate, so the senate tabled the issue for a later date. The senate had proposed a special committee that would that would help craft the new bylaw amendment. During Tuesday’s meeting, in a sharp contrast from the debate two weeks ago, the senate unanimously approved a committee, though in a slightly different form.A few changes to the structure of the committee played into its smooth approval. The authors of the bylaw amendment, Sen. Michaela Murphy and former USG leader Mai Mizuno, will now preside as committee’s co-chairs. It will also have seats for members of the USG advocacy branch. But the composition of the committee’s mandated members, USG Senator Michaela Murphy said, is the most important change in sealing its approval.In the original committee proposal, “there were people who had explicit seats at the table who might not necessarily have as nuanced an idea of the different needs of different marginalized groups on this campus,” Murphy said. “The people who are mandated to be there are the key stakeholders in these conversations.”USG Vice President Blake Ackerman said that aside from the committee’s structural changes, a major roadblock to approving the committee was transparency about the committee’s purpose. This time around, “there was a lot more communication between everyone that needed to be involved in the conversation,” Ackerman said. “A lot of the hurdles were just conflict resolution,” Murphy said. “People on all sides after that senate meeting [two weeks ago] … felt like they weren’t being listened to. The biggest thing was making sure people felt healed.”The committee will hold its first meeting sometime before Sept. 21 and it will be open to the public. “If issues get to a point where no one else is supporting these [diversity] initiatives, [USG] will take on that responsibility,” Murphy said.