-2- 



"Bulk boxea help to maintain on-the-tree quality by reducing bruising. 

 Studies not only in Michigan, but also in Washington, California, British Columbia, 

 New Zealand, and South Africa show this to be true. I want to emphasize here that' 

 bulk boxes do make it easier to reduce bruising, but they, in themselves cannot 

 reduce bruising. Supervision is all important. Drops and pressures cause bruising. 

 It takes no longer to be careful than it does to be careless. Constantly reminding* 

 pickers and handlers of these facts takes time but pays off in higher quality fruit. 

 There are no substitutes for good supervision. Bruisiag in bulk boxes is reduced 

 because there is 2/3 less wood surface in a bulk box than in field crates holding 

 the same volume of fruit. There is also less top surface where fruit can roll 

 than in field crates. It is easier for the picker to transfer apples into bulk 

 boxes than into field crates because he does not have to bend over so far. Bulk 

 boxes are lifted, moved, and set down with fork lift equipment and, therefore, can 

 be handled carefully. Water flotation dumpers are now being used for removing 

 tender fruit and CA storage fruit from the boxes. There are six Michigan packing 

 houses and as many or more Washington packing houses that have this type dumper. 

 The bulk box is submerged and as the apples float up, they are carried away to the 

 packing line by circulating water. This equipment makes it possible to remove 

 fruit from bulk boxes onto the packing line with practically no bruising or stem 

 punctures. Tie-up dumpers do a good job at processing plants and a fair job on 

 such apples as Delicious and Jonathan for fresh market. 



"Bulk boxes help maintain quality by enabling a picking crew to harvest a 

 greater percentage of the crop at proper maturity. It is Impossible to pick the 

 whole crop at ideal maturity. However, time studies in California, Washington, 

 and Michigan have shown a given picker can harvest from eight to ten per cent more 

 fruit per hour when picking into bulk boxes than when into field crates. Maturity 

 affects processing quality, length of storing and eating quality. 



"Time delay between harvest and storage affects quality. Any delay, especially 

 at high temperatures will shorten storage life and may lower fruit quality during 

 storage due to bitter pit, shriveling, etc. Fork lift trucks in conjunction with 

 pallets or bulk boxes make it possible to keep up with the harvest and move the 

 fruit into storage within an average of two hours after it is picked." 



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



CHANGES IN MASSACHUSETTS APPLE VARIETIES 



The kind and number of apple varieties appear to change very little from year 

 to year, but over extended periods of time varieties may change in number and 

 relative importance. 



In the March, 19A6 issue of "Fruit Notes" there appeared a report of a variety 

 survey which was sent to fruit growers. This report represented the thinking of 

 growers at that time as to what varieties they would retain or discard as well as 

 varieties they would plant in the future. 



Let u8 take a look at the report again to see if we have changed our thinking in 

 regards to apple varieties. Here is the report in part. "While the survey did not 



