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The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the impact of some labeling aspects on the consumer intent to purchase ready to drink orange juice and nectar.

The influence of label information on the consumer intent to purchase was evaluated by conjoint analysis using a convenience sample (n=149). A factorial design with four characteristics, price, brand, information about the product and kind of beverage, was used. Three levels were established for brand and product information, and two for price and kind of beverage.

Low price, product information and market leading brand had positive impact. “No preservatives/natural” was the information that most influenced consumer's purchase intent. The ideal label showed the leading brand, low price and information “no preservatives/natural”. These results could be useful for strategic planning of consumer instruction and have important implications for Brazilian orange juice manufactures.

Although the most widely consumed beverages in Brazil are ready to drink orange juice and nectar, it was unexpected that consumers did not know the differences between them and that kind of beverage was not an important factor for the purchase decision.

These are the days of falling standards and sagging morale, nowhere more apparent than in the one‐time efficient public service. The division between management and workers in the field in the large public enterprises has grown wider and wider and we tend to blame the lower strata of the structure for most of the ills which beset us, mainly because its failures are more obvious; here, the falling standards of work and care speak for themselves. The massive reorganization of the National Health Service and local authorities has made evident, especially in the first, that the upper strata of the colossi which dominate our everyday lives have their ills too. Local authorities have been told “The party is over!” and the National Health Service has been told of the urgent need for the strictest economy in administration; that the taking over of personal health services from local authorities was wrongly attributed to “managerial growth” instead of a mere “transfer of functions”, but, nonetheless, new authorities were created, each with fast‐growing administrative organs operating services—doctors, nurses and patients—which had remained unchanged. Very large local authorities, with many functions lost to others, one would have expected to have resulted in economy of administration, has all‐too‐often been the opposite. Hardly surprising that those who pay for it all, distinct from those who receive of its largesse, are being stirred to rebellion, when they have been overtaxed, ill‐used and what is more important, ignored for so long.

The way of thought and vision and memory is that they often come upon you unexpectedly, presenting nothing new but usually with a clarity and emphasis that it all seems new. This will sometimes happen after a long period of indecision or when things are extremely difficult, as they have long been for the country, in most homes and among ordinary individuals. Watching one's life savings dwindle away, the nest‐egg laid down for security in an uncertain world, is a frightening process. This has happened to the nation, once the richest in the world, and ot its elderly people, most of them taught the habit of saving in early youth. We are also taught that what has been is past changing; the clock cannot be put back, and the largesse—much of it going to unprincipled spongers—distributed by a spendthrift Government as token relief is no answer, not even to present difficulties. The response can only come by a change of heart in those whose brutal selfishness have caused it all; and this may be a long time in coming. In the meantime, it is a useful exercise to consider our assets, to recognize those which must be protected at all costs and upon which, when sanity returns, the future depends.

The investigation here reported was undertaken to determine certain physical principles and their application to dehydration problems in general. The project was not carried to the point where it was possible to consider the modifications necessary for the different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Factors leading to the deterioration of dehydrated products and the relation which the condition of the fresh material may bear to this deterioration are important phases of the problem not here considered. Spoilage of raw food is due principally to the growth of moulds and bacteria. This growth does not occur when the soluble solids are sufficiently concentrated through the reduction, by drying or by other means, of the water present in foods. Even if they are not killed, the moulds and bacteria remain dormant and harmless in the absence of a suitable medium for their growth. Changes in composition, flavour and appearance, however, may also be brought about by the action of the enzymes present in practically all foodstuffs. As these natural catalytic bodies are not always inactivated by the treatment which stops mould and bacterial action they must be considered in working out methods of dehydration. The outstanding advantage of drying as a method of preserving foods is that the weight and bulk of the products are greatly reduced, thus making possible economy in storage and transportation. The production cost of dehydration compares favourably with that of canning. Dried fruits and vegetables are almost as convenient for use in the home as the fresh products. They need no peeling or other preliminary treatment, and soaking and cooking can often be combined. Only the quantity required need be used when the package is opened; the rest will keep in good condition for a reasonable time. “Dried,” “sun‐dried,” “evaporated” and “dehydrated” are the terms most commonly used to describe dried products. Dried indicates drying by any means; sun‐dried indicates drying without artificial heat; and evaporated implies the use of artificial heat. Evaporated refers more particularly to the use of artificial heat in driers depending for their air circulation on natural draught, while dehydrated implies mechanical circulation of artificial heat. The commercial dehydration of fruits has reached a more advanced stage of development than has the commercial dehydration of vegetables, owing largely to the fact that the public is familiar with sun‐dried and evaporated fruits, whereas it knows comparatively little about dried vegetables. During the World War 8,905,158 lbs. of dehydrated vegetables, divided as follows, were shipped to the United States Army overseas: Potatoes, 6,437,430lbs.; onions, 336,780; carrots, 214,724; turnips, 56,224; and soup mixture, 1,860,000. In the years immediately following 1919 the drying of vegetables declined rapidly, and for the last 10 years or more production has been compartively small. To be successful, a dehydration plant must be built where fresh materials are plentiful and reasonable in price. A diversity of products makes possible an operating season long enough to keep the overhead expenses down to the minimum. The products dried, however, should be limited to those for which a ready market exists. The only satisfactory method of operating is to contract for a sufficient acreage to take care of the needs of a plant at a price which will permit both the grower and the drier to make a profit. Material to be dried must be carefully sorted so as to be free of mould, decay and other defects that would lower the grade of the finished product. The stone fruits (apricots, peaches, cherries and plums) must be sufficiently firm to permit mechanical pitting without tearing. Where they are prepared by manual labour they must not be so soft as to stick to the trays. Apples and pears must not be so soft as to crush in the coring and peeling machines. Berries, cranberries and grapes are usually dried whole. Fruit that needs trimming must be avoided, as it not only adds to the cost of operation, but also lowers the grade of the final product. Vegetables, such as beans (snap), cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and turnips, are sliced, shredded, diced or cut in desired pieces before drying. Dehydration does not improve the quality of fresh fruits or vegetables, nor does it provide for the satisfactory use of unsound products. At best the process can only conserve the original constituents of the foods, minus replaceable water. Careful handling reduces labour and waste. Bruised tissue is especially susceptible to discolouration and decay. Individual pieces prepared from good stock are more uniform and attractive than those from heavily trimmed stock. Raw materials should be as carefully washed and cleaned for dehydration as for table use. Much of the washing machinery used in canning is suitable for use in dehydration plants. A rotary cylindrical washer equipped with a water‐spraying system is very satisfactory for washing many types of products. Soft or easily broken fruits and vegetables may be washed by passing the trayed material between several sprays of cold water. The segregation of fresh fruits and vegetables according to size facilitates both the preparatory handling and the drying. One type of grader consists of a perforated metal plate, 3 by 10 feet, or larger. The perforations are in sections of varying size, and the plate is inclined and mechanically agitated in order to insure an even flow of the material in one direction. The product is separated according to size by being passed through the perforations. Perforated plates are also used in stacks. Several plates, each stamped with holes of a uniform size, the holes varying in size with each plate, are set one above the other, with 6 inches or more between plates. They are arranged so that the holes are progressively smaller from top to bottom. Another grader sorts out easily rolling materials according to diameter. As a mechanically driven cable rolls the materials along an opening that increases in width, the product falls through and is collected according to size. A grader based on the same principle passes the product down a chute the floor of which consists of rollers placed at increasingly greater distances apart. As the product rolls along the chute it is separated in progression according to size.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze international orange trade as different types of orange juice seem to obtain the favor of newer food consumption patterns as opposed to fresh oranges. In addition, the authors will outline market tendencies that could be useful to stakeholders interested in any way in the sector.

This document uses the Lafay index (LFI) in order to evaluate the intra-sectoral trade specialization; however, the social network analysis (SNA) approach is used to connect the international trade relations and to refine, classify and prioritize the countries having a central role in the orange juice world trade network. For both indexes, UNCOMTRADE has been used.

The findings show that the growing orange juice trade is the leading global growth factor as opposed to the sale of fresh oranges. It appears that major trade revenues come from orange juice concentrate (Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ)). Business takes place mostly in Europe.

This study shows for the first time that the current orange juice export competitiveness is crucial to the long-term survival of the orange sector. This study valuably contributes to the less known literature regarding FCOJ and Not From Concentrate orange juice trade relevance.

The findings of the Steering Group on Food Freshness in relation to the compulsory date marking of food contained in their Report, reviewed elsewhere in this issue, has brought within measurable distance the Regulations which were, in any case, promised for1975. The Group consider that the extension of voluntary open date marking systems will not be sufficiently rapid (or sufficiently comprehensive) to avoid the need or justify the delay in introducing legislation.

The appearance of a rapidly expanding range of ready-to-drink packaged beverages in the marketplace has been met with widespread consumer acceptance. The aim of this study is to profile the nutritional composition and dental erosive potential of a sample of beverages sold for consumption in Brisbane supermarkets.

In all, 44 beverages were assessed to determine their pH and titratable acidity. Information relating to nutritional composition was also collected.

Milk-based beverages had the highest energy concentration, while soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured milk, and fruit and vegetable juice categories contained products with very high sugar concentrations (>10g/100ml). All beverages, except milk-based products and still water, had a pH of less than 4.8. Titratable acidity was highest for energy drinks and fruit and vegetable juices.

Energy drinks and fruit and vegetable juices had the highest sugar content and titratable acidity of all the beverage categories and so would be expected to have the greatest potential to cause oral health problems. Milk drinks had the highest energy concentration, but the lowest erosive potential. Regular consumption of many ready-to-drink pre-packaged beverages is therefore inconsistent with recommendations in current dietary and oral health guidelines.

Rather than considering nutritional composition alone, this study examined both nutritional and physicochemical properties of ready-to-drink packaged beverages to reach a more holistic assessment of their health impact.

Today there is an enormous range of soft drinks available. These may be squashes which require diluting with water or be in a ready to drink form which can be either fizzy (carbonated) or still. A variety of fruit and vegetable juices is also available.

This paper extends the concept of market orientation from the firm to the value chain level and seeks to develop empirically founded propositions on determinants of different levels of market orientation of value chains.

Four case studies on value chains within the areas of agribusiness and fisheries are conducted. For each value chain, desk research is combined with interviews with decision‐makers of all types of value chain members. Interview guidelines were derived from a conceptual model of potential determinants of value chain market orientation.

Degree of market orientation of value chains is found to be related to degree of heterogeneity and dynamism of end‐users served, nature of chain relationships, regulations and prevailing mental models of decision‐makers. Short and balanced chains are believed to further upstream market orientation.

The results point at two areas, where additional research on market orientation is called for: a better conceptualization of market intelligence and theorizing on most cost effective ways of being market oriented, including implications for the distribution of market oriented activities among value chain members.

The paper underlines the importance of managing channel relationships, up to and including vertical integration, when serving markets with high degrees of end‐user volatility.

This paper is the first empirical contribution to the market orientation literature employing a perspective encompassing the whole value chain.

In his Annual Report, Mr. W. A. Davenport, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures for Buckinghamshire, includes a dissertation (full of wisdom, as we think) on the Merchandise Marks Act, which, he states, “are designed to achieve two distinct objects. The older and more important object is to ensure that goods shall not, with impunity, be sold as something better than they really are. The later and more restricted object is to help the sale of certain agricultural and fishery products of the United Kingdom in competition with imported goods of the same class. The first is attained under the 1887 Act, by prohibiting false claims of almost any kind ; the second, under the 1926 Act, by compelling a true disclosure of the country of origin where this is outside the United Kingdom. Neither of these Acts imposes a duty on the Council, but whilst the 1887 Act is open to be enforced by anyone, it is expressed that the 1926 Act may be enforced by Food and Drugs Authorities, a provision which has the effect of precluding its enforcement by anyone else.