-3- 



contalner holding twelve pounds of apples vertically in a single tier. Perkins 

 concluded that much of the severe damage on Starr apples was caused by impacts 

 during handling and trucking the apples and not the result of minor vibrations 

 which nemally occur in transportation of the fruit. 



The study reported below was undertaken to study the relationship between 

 bag placement in master cartons and mechanical damage caused by impacts, where 

 the damage occurs, and how it may be reduced. 



Method of Study 



All mechanical damage on composited samples of Mcintosh apples was encircled 

 with a Btarking pencil prior to the study. The apples were then jumble-packed in 

 3 pound capacity polyethylene bags. 



The standard procedure of many Massachusetts growers bagging apples is to 

 place 2-\ inch and up diameter apples in the bags. Therefore, in two tests 

 random sized apples were bagged. In another test uniform sized apples were used 

 in comparison to these of random size. 



Two types of master containers were used in the study. A fibreboard carton 

 designed to hold twelve 3 pound bags vertically in a single tier. The interior 

 •f this carton was divided by non-test C Flute corrugated partitions into 12 

 vertical cells for additional protection of the apples. The second fibreboard 

 master carton was designed to hold twelve 3 pound bags with 4 bags laid horizon- 

 tally per layer in 3 layers. A non-test C Flute corrugated pad was placed between 

 the bottom and middle and the middle and top layers of apples. Additional 

 protection was provided by non-test C Flute corrugated partitions which separated 

 the bags in each partition. 



In one trial, the effectiveness of a non-test C Flute corrugated partition 

 and ^ inch thick Ethafoam pad (expanded polyethylene product of the Dew Chemical 

 Company, Midland, Michigan) as a means of reducing bruise damage was tested. 



The filled containers were dropped 3 times from a height of 12 inches to a 

 wooden floor by a mechanical drop-impact tester. After treatment, the apples 

 were allowed to remain at room temperature for 48 hours to allow the bruised 

 areas to darken. All the fruit in the test were examined for stem punctures and 

 bruises. 



Results 



In 4 trials, the number of % and 3/4 inch diameter bruises was less in 

 cartons with horizontal bag placement than in those with vertical placement 

 (Table 1). 



