Apple
Postharvest management of apples consists of a number of activities. Please select your activity of interest below. For apples, we have gathered information about handling of the apples, packing and stacking in a safe way, proper temperature management, and frequently occurring disorders and diseases. We invite you to browse this information by clicking on the tiles below. If you need direct consultation on proper postharvest management of apples, please contact our expert through the contact form below.
Postharvest points of attention for apples
Handling apples
Fruit, vegetables and flowers are living and sensitive products. When working with fresh products like apples, it is essential to realise the importance of handling products with care. This prevents food and quality losses and profit losses.
Packing and stacking apples
Apples are packed in all types of packaging. Crates, cartons, trays, bags and punnets are convenient containers for handling, transport and marketing. Careful packing is important when working with fresh produce, to avoid damages. The packaging is designed to protect the produce from mechanical damage, but is only effective when used correctly. When stacking the packages on a pallet, the risk of falling should be minimized. It must be done in such a way the packages provide each other stability. Completed pallets should be strapped well so that the contents cannot shift or fall.
Temperature management apples
An optimal temperature is mostly the first requirement to maintain a good quality of horticultural produce after harvest. Refrigeration is an effective method of preserving the quality of apples. Cooler temperatures extend the storage life by, among other things, reducing respiration, water loss, colour change, and decay. The apples should however not be stored below their critical temperature. This would result in risks on various quality problems such as weakened tissue leading to discoloration and increased risk of decay. The optimum temperature varies per commodity and cultivar and should be controlled throughout the whole fresh supply chain.
Apple disorders and diseases
Good quality products are free from diseases and disorders. Customers will not buy apples with rots or with damaged skin. But also fruit that looks good on the outside but is brown or soft inside will not lead to happy customers. There are dozens of different diseases and disorders and these are not always easy to recognize. However, a good diagnosis is important. By recognizing the symptoms of a disease or disorder, it can be linked to the cause. If you know the cause, you know what measures can be taken to prevent the disease or disorder in the future.
Research insights for postharvest management of apples
In our applied research, we study postharvest management of apples. On this page, some results from our research are indicated.