ABUSIVE HAI^DLIHG OF McINTOSH APPLES 



Everyone v;ho handles Mcintosh apples froa crower to retailer knov7s that 

 Mcintosh is a tender variety and is easily bruised, cut and stern punctured. 



To deteraine the extent and source of mechanical injury (bruises, cuts and 

 stem punctures) affecting Massachusetts Mcintosh has been the purpose of a series 

 of studies over the past three years. In 1954-55 a study was made in retail 

 stores and it x^as found that 67 per cent of the Mcintosh on display were below 

 fancy ^rade and that 83 per cent of these v/ere below fancy because of mechanical 

 injury. In 1955-56 a study was made in several packinB houses to determine the 

 nature and extent of blemishes on Mcintosh in the packages as packed for market. 

 This study showed that 29 per cent of the apples were below fancy grade and that 

 ul per cent of these were below fancy because of mechanical injury. 



During the fall and early winter of 1956-57 another study was made in nineteen 

 packinij houses in an endeavor to learn where this excessive mechanical injury is 

 taking place. 



In this study a sample of 400 to 500 apples was obtained as the apples came 

 to the packers from storage* These apples were analyzed for number of small 

 bruises (less than V), number of bruises V to 3/4", 3/4" to 1" and 1" and over, 

 also for number of cuts and stem punctures. Another sample of 300 to 400 apples 

 was obtained from packages packed for market and analyzed in the same manner. 



At eleven of the packing houses studied the apples were hand graded while in 

 the other eight the apples went over some type of grading belt or machine. 



The situation with respect to mechanical injury as found in the several 

 packing houses is shown in part in the accompanying table. 



In this table columns marked "B" refer to apples as they came from storage 

 to the packers. Columns marked "A" refer to apples that were packed for market. 



Column I shows the percentage of apples with few small bruises (less than % 

 inch in diameter) . Column II shows the percentage of apples with many small bruises 

 (more than 7 bruises less than %" in diameter) . Column III shows the percentage 

 of apples with bruises -i" or over. Column IV shows the number of %" to 3/4" bruises 

 per apple on the basis of all apples in the sample. While a record was made of 

 bruises larger than 3/4" the number was relatively unimportant. Column V shows 

 the number of cuts and stem punctures per apple. 



One or more of three types of packages were used in the various packing houses: 

 cell carton, polyethylene bag and the eastern apple box commonly known as the 

 crate. A study was made of the extent of bruising and cuts and stem punctures in 

 each type of package. Also, a study was made of the relative effect on mechanical 

 injury of machine grading versus hand grading. 



What does this study indicate? 



1, That Mcintosh apples can be handled with a minimum of mechanical injuries 

 even in orchards with a large volume. 



