Transit Temperatures and Quality of Cantaloups: Effect of Load Size and Icing Service on Rail Shipments

Excerpt from the report: Shipments of cantaloups from western producing areas to eastern markets have been affected by two major changes in transit conditions--load sizes have been increased and transit times have been reduced. Rail tests with the new schedules and loads were conducted from 1958 to 1961 to determine (1) if the conventional refrigeration service was adequate for the heavier loads, and (2) if refrigeration services less expensive than the conventional service would provide adequate refrigeration for the faster schedules. These tests were part of a broad program of research aimed at maintaining quality of farm products during marketing