New Brunswick, New Jersey, that the ntnnber of bruises on Mcintosh apples nearly 

 doubled from the farm (via warehouse) to the retail store. Sixty-four per cent 

 of the apples on retail display were bruised with 20 per cent having serious 

 bruising (bruises 3/4 inch and over in diameter). 



In the discussion of how bruising can be reduced, Perkins stated that 

 shipping tests with Starr apples indicate that direct delivery of bagged apples 

 from the farm to retail stores resulted in substantially less bruising than when 

 the apples are moved through warehouses. 



Bruising is influenced by bag placement within master cartons. Perkins 

 found over three times more severe bruises occurred on apples when the bags were 

 placed vertically in a single tier than when the bags were laid horizontally in 

 two tiers in a master carton. "The apples in the bottom layer of this carton had 

 about the same per cent moderate bruising as occurred in the top layer, but 

 showed five times as much serious bruising." Perkins concluded from this study 

 that most of the bruising was caused by impacts in handling and trucking. 



Perkins and Underwood have shown that 50 per cent less bruising occurs on 

 Mcintosh apples packaged in cellophane overwrapped trays than in polyethylene 

 bags. "The cost of using these tray containers is approximately one cent per 

 pound of fruit more than the cost of using polyethylene bags." 



A study conducted by R. A. Shadburn, Agricultural Marketing Service, involving 

 test shipment of Mcintosh apples in fibreboard cartons from New England to Florida 

 markets has revealed that better loading methods can reduce bruising and improve 

 the refrigeration of apples during transit. The bruising was much less on apples 

 in cell cartons than on bagged apples. Most frequently damage occurred to apples 

 in containers located at the rear of trailers. "Other conclusions from this 

 study suggested the need for more uniformity of carton sizes to improve loading 

 patterns, and the need for closer supervision of loading by shippers." 



Perkins stated that, "It is very likely that in many cases insufficient atten- 

 tion is presently being given to the importance of fruit firmness and its impact 

 of bruising in determining when to harvest and sell specific lots of apples." 



The need for bulk handling techniques which can be universally applied in 

 handling apples at the farm and through the warehouses and retail stores was 

 suggested. 



Perkins stated that, "Any effective program aimed at supplying consumers 

 with apples of high quality and pleasing appearance requires joint effort on the 

 part of growers, truckers, warehousemen, produce personnel and others who handle 

 apples. Our educational programs, therefore, need to reach all members of the 

 trade and should strive to acquaint those actively engaged in handling apples 

 with the latest, up-to-date Information essential for stimulating the most rapid 

 adoption of improved practices for marketing apples." 



-"William J. Lord 

 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



