Laboratory tests revealed that palletized fiberboard boxes of Bartlett pears are most susceptible to bruising damage at vibrational frequencies below 40 Hz (cycles/s), which are common in refrigerated highway trailers. Damage studies indicate that of the four frequency regions observed in-transit (3,5 Hz, 9 Hz, 18,5 Hz, and 25 Hz), Bartlett pears are most severely damaged at 3,5 Hz and 18,5 Hz. Laboratory studies also show that fiberboard boxes of pears amplify vibration at frequencies below 40 Hz such that, for some frequencies, the lid of the top box in a pallet is accelerated three to four times more than the level input to the bottom box. Keywords.

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In three crop years (1986–1988), peanuts exported from Argentina, China and the United States were evaluated for biochemical composition relative to flavor and shelf‐life quality potentials and physical size conformity. Relationships were consistent in that oil stability was associated with high tocopherol and oleic/linoleic acid ratio, and with low free fatty acid, peroxide, carbonyl, and copper and iron content. Peanuts from specific origins had recurring component patterns, with highest indications for shelf life and flavor potential in United States samples. Although no single factor or group of factors can be relied on completely as predictors of flavor or quality, these data establish a significant positive relationship between oil quality factors and roasted peanut flavor quality potential. Argentina and United States peanuts were the most consistently sized, and China peanuts generally had the lowest count/weight.

Soybean quality is of concern to processors throughout the world, as deterioration during storage, handling and shipment can result in crude oil which is difficult to process and has high refining losses. Little information is available comparing the relative quality of soybeans in export shipment based on crop year and origin. Shipments of soybeans originating from the United States, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina were sampled in Europe and Asia during a four-year period. Soybean samples were graded, protein and oil contents determined, and oil quality characteristics assessed by laboratory procedures. Results of these analyses present, for the first time, direct comparisons of the quality of soybeans exported from the principal producing countries. The data suggests that United States (U.S.) farmers and exporters must continue their efforts to improve the physical characteristics of soybeans in export shipment; the emphasis of breeding and genetic engineering research should be to increase the protein content of soybeans grown in the U.S.; and that the high quality of crude oil recovered from U.S. soybeans should prove an advantage to the processor using soybeans imported from the United States.