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Show If In Doubt, Throw It Out by Halcyn Robins County Extension Office I have already received calls concernfood that has been contaminatthe ing ed with flood waters. Because of this, I am putting forth this information from our Extension Disaster Handbook on contaminated foods. Flood waters may carry silt, raw sewage, oil or chemical wastes. Filth and disease bacteria in flood water will contaminate food, making it unsafe to eat. Use the following guidelines when deciding which foods to discard and which to save: FOODS TO DISCARD 1. Unopened containers and packages which have come in contact with flood waters. 2. Unopened jars and bottles with paper seals such as those containing mayonnaise or salad dressings. 3. Containers of spices, seasonings and flavorings. 4. Flour, sugar and coffee in cracker By Wade Bitner Tooal County Agent or spoilage. 7. Jam or jelly sealed with parafin. 8. Containers with fitted lids, such as cocoa or baking powder. 9. Commercially bottled carbonated beverages, if the cap is crusted with silt. 10. Foil or cellophane packages. 11. All fresh vegetables and fruits which do not have a peel, shell or coating, which can be removed before use; leafy vegetables. non-seale- barrelf Recommended varieties of garden vegetables are provided by Utah State University research. These varieties are tested for their growth in our soil, production and resistance to diseases. Last year 44 varieties of 36 varieties of corn, 75 varieties of tomatoes and 35 varieties of winter squash were tested. Many of the varieties tested are not suitable for this area. There are especially interested developments in sweet corn. The company which produces 85 percent of the sweet corn seed in the United States predicts there will be an almost complete change in sweet corn hybrids within the next five years. The types which are becoming prominent are the super sweets which are sugary extender types. They have the sweet taste for several days longer after harvest than the common types used now. There are several problems which come with the sweet taste. Most of these new varieties need to be isolated from the starchy varieties to maintain their sweet taste. They also do not germinate well in cold soils. We must then plant later when the soil is warm to get good germination. Some early hybrids (63-7days) are: Earliee, Golden Earlipak. These do not need to be isolated. The Super Sweet Corns that need to be isolated 200 feet or 14 days in maturity from other plantings are: Extra Sweet 82, Sugar Loaf, Sunburst Super Sweet, Double Delight musk-melon- s, 0 and Patinum Lady. These corns are very new and will be more readily available next season, but they are sweet enough that you really ought to try some. Tomatoes that are very good in a medium size are Early Girl, Early Cascade and Roza. For very fine large are still fruit, Morteon Hybrid, DX 52-1- canisters. 5. Paper, cloth, fiber or cardboard boxes, even if the contents seem dry. This includes salt, cereals, pasta products, rice and any sealed packages of crackers or cookies within larger paper box. 6. Dented, bulging or leaking tin cans. Cans which have been tossed about and are found far from their normal storage spot. Seams on these cans may have been weakened or their seals broken, causing contamination 2 very good. One of the easiest ways to get high quality tomatoes in your own garden is to plant a couple of new varieties that you have never tried before then compare them with the familiar varieties you regualrly plant. Winter squash varieties which look pretty good, are Buttercup, Waltham Butternut, Sweet Moma, Sweet Meat, Bush Buttercup and Spaghetti. Watermelon varieties are Sugar Belle, Sweet Favorite, Crimson Sweet, Super Sweet and Triple Sweet Seedless. These have a growing requirement of days and should be able to mature in the Tooele area and with some special help grow in other areas of the county. In choosing any seed read the packet to know how deep, when, how far apart in rows and betwen rows, and the recommended time of planting and resis78-9- 5 tance to diseases, and days to maturity. This information will make gardening much more fun and successful. For example, the letters VFN on tomatoes indicate to resistance to Verticillim Wilt and Fursarium Wilt and Nematodes. These common diseases are prevented by buying the right seed. For further information contact the County Extension Office for our bulletin on recommended varieties for Utah. Thought for the day: You can tell when summer is here when you hear the doorbell ring and there is a grocery sack of zucchini on the doorstep and no one around. Use Edgers Safely Spring introduces grass to your lawn again, and grass means mowing and edging. Edgers are fast, efficient and dangerous, especially the first time they are used in the spring," says Von Jarrett, Extension agricultural engineer at Utah State University. Jarrett recommends taking the following safety precautions when using edgers: Carefully clear loose rocks and debris from the area to be trimmed. Keep bystanders away from the area. The edger can throw rocks with considerable force. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Even small dirt clods sting bare legs. forAlways opearte the edger in a will the not shield It ward direction. backwards. used when operator When not in use, disable the machine so small children cannot start it. 12. Fresh meat, fish and poultry, which have been in contact with flood waters. 13. Home canned foods, even if the jars seem tightly sealed. (However, in some cases, tightly sealed home canned food may be safe, depending on the flood conditions. If your supply of canned food is extensive, contact a food preservation specialist, who can advise you after learning specific facts about flood condition.) FOOD TO KEEP The following foods are safe if you wash and sanitize containers before use, or wash, sanitize and peel fruits and vegetables: 1. Undamaged tin cans. For added safety, boil food before using. Be sure to wash and sanitize container before opening the can. 2. Potatoes. Wash, sanitize, dry, peel and cook before using. j Reflections, May 24, 1984, Page 15 3. Citrus fruits. Wash well, sanitize, and peel before using. 4. Apples and other fruits which can be sanitized, peeled and cooked before eating. Do not eat raw fruit, even it it has been sanitized. TO DISINFECT CANS AND COMMERCIAL GLASS JARS All cans and commercial glass jars must be washed and sanitized before they are opened. 1. Remove labels and wash in a strong detergent solution with a scrub brush. Remove all silt. 2. Immerse scrubbed containers for 15 minutes in a chlorine solution. Household bleaches contain from 2-percent chlorine. The amount of bleach to add to water is 1 Tablespoon per gallon. 3. Remove containers from solution 6 and air-dr- y before opening. Re-lab- if possible. Use as soon as possible since containers may rust. Store containers where they will not be For further information on flooding problems, dont hesitate to contact our Extension Office. |