The Rural Voice, 1978-02, Page 25regulations have permitted a variety of
syrup strengths for processed fruit,
ranging from very heavy (not less than 25
per cent sugar in the finished product) to
slightly sweetened water (from 10 to 15 per
cent sugar in the finished product). In
addition, fruit may be packed in fruit juices
without the addition of extra sugar:
Water -packed fruit has always been
permitted, but it has been mostly canned in
large containers for institutional use.
The change in processed fruit and
vegetable regulations has come in
response to consumer demand.
"Canadian tastes are changing -- we are
becoming more calorie conscious," says
E.R. Smith of Agriculture Canada's fruit
and vegetable division. "The trend is
toward a preference for light or slightly
sweetened syrup in processed fruit."
Regulations governing syrup strength
for processed fruits date back to the Second
World War. when sugar was rationed.
As the result of surveys and taste panels
conducted then. it vias determined that
consumers preferred a heavy syrup with
canned and frozen fruit. These ingoing
syrups ranged from 25 or 30 per cent sugar
for relatively sweet fruits like pears and
apples to 50 per cent for a sour fruit like
loganberries. After the fruit has been in
the can for a short period and has absorbed
some of the sugar in the syrup. the
percentage of sugar in the syrup averages
about 20 per cent.
Five syrup strengths are now permitted,
based on the soluble solids content of the
packing medium. Extra heavy syrup has a
minimum of 23 or 25 per cent sugar
(depending on the sweetness of the
particular fruit) and is found mostly in ,
imported fruits. Heavy syrup. with a'
minimum of 18 or 19 per cent sugar. is
comparable to the syrup strength familiar
since the regulations first went into force.
Light syrup or light fruit juice syrup has a
minimum of 14 or 15 per cent sugar.
Slightly sy:cetened v.ater or slightly
srectened fruit juice has a minimum of 10
or 11 per cent sugar. Fruit packed in juice
has a minimum of five per cent sugar. a
level that is surpassed naturally in most
fruits.
"Packers are moving slowly toward
canning the less sweet products." Mr.
Smith says. "They are waiting to see if
consumer demand is as great as seemed to
be indicated when the requests were made
for changes in regulations. Whether or not
the lighter syrup packs become readily
available depends ultimately on the
consumer. If he or she knows they are
available and asks for them, less sweet
canned and frozen fruits will become
commonplace in supermarkets."
Gardening book
available
All the colors of a summer garden have
reached Canadian bookshelves.
A comprehensive book on flowers.
Canadian Garden Perennials, has just been
published to till a long -felt void in
gardening books for this country. It was
written by one of Canada's most widely
read garden columnists, A.R. Buckley.
Mr. Buckley retired from Agriculture
Canada's Research Branch in 1973, after
35 years as a specialist in horticulture.
Canadian Garden Perennials is the
culmination of a life -time study of
ornamental gardening in the often -unfav-
orable climatic conditions of northern
North America. The book has been brought
out in both Canadian and American
editions by a British Columbia publishing
house in association with Agriculture
Canada and the Publishing Centre of
Supply and Services Canada.
During his years with Agriculture
Canada, Mr. Bucktey evaluated new
annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees in
the ornamental gardens and arboretum at
the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.
His weekly column, Garden Notes,
carried by more than 100 daily newspapers
in Canada made him widely known across
the country. He is also a skilled flower
photographer and took the majority of
photographs in the book himself.
It is designed to be a handbook for the
gardener, with lists of perennials and
biennials that can be successfully
cultivated in Canada. It also includes
valuable advice on planning and planting a
garden. propagation and general care,
winter protection and control of pests and
diseases. Lists of perennials for special
purposes and sample plans for seasonal
borders are also included.
Mr. Buckley received his formal training
at the John Innes Horticultural Institute,
London. England and The Royal Botanical
Gardens at Kew, England. At the time of
his retirement from Agriculture Canada,
he was curator of the arboretum at the
Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa.
In addition to the lavish use of
photographs in Canadian Garden Perenni-
als, each chapter is headed by a pastel
floral drawing by Agriculture Canada artist
Mary Brett.
The book is available at retail bookstores
across Canada.
Plowing Match will give
Huron boom
The International Plowing Match to be
held near Wingham in September will be a
"big shot in the arm" for the Huron
County economy, county industrial officer
Spence Cummings says.
Mr. Cummings predicted there would be
250,000 at the 1978 match and said that
while the Wingham area would benefit
most, the business attracted would spread
through Bruce and Grey counties as well.
Already, he said, all hotel rooms in the
area have been booked for the week of the
match.
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WINGHAM
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Phone Collect
357-1583
StickIand
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(519) 524-8841
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RURAL VOICE/FEBRUARY 1978, PG. 25.
1