Aerobic Microflora of Commercially Harvested, Transported and Cryogenically Processed Col lards (Brassica oleracea)

Samples of spring and fall harvested collards were obtained at critical stages in a normal harvesting, transportation and cryogenic processing operation and microbiologically analyzed for total plate counts, En-terobacreriaceae counts, and yeasts and molds. Operations that involved extended holding times and mechanical handling tended to increase all counts significantly while blanching and blast freezing with liquid N₂ reduced counts to acceptable levels. Differences were significant in all counts by sampling points and dates. Prominant genera of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the frozen product were those normally associated with soil contamination and not normally considered pathogenic to humans.