# off-hand untried code

PROGRAM_INIT:
my %proc_table = ( 
   type => \&process,
   apple => \&apple_wash_core_pulp,
   banana => \&banana_bend_hang,
);

foreach ( @item){
   &$proc_table{$type} if exists $proc_table{$type};
   next;
   unknown_type();
}