Therefore, in a 

 pears should be 

 at 30 rather 



storage with 

 stored at 

 than 32-34° will 



a 

 30°F 



good temperature-control system, 

 for maximum storage life. Storage 

 lengthen storage life significantly 



Since pears are quite prone to shriveling, especially at the 

 narrow stem-end of the fruit, humidity control is particularly im- 

 portant. Maintaining the storage at 90-95% R.H. is considered to 

 be optimum. However, packing the pears in perforated polyethylene 

 bags is an excellent way to control shriveling due to moisture 



1 OSS 



.J>^ 



The Anjou variety of pear is ^ery susceptible to scald. It 

 has been found that dipping the fruit in 2700 ppm ethoxyquin (Stop- 

 scald*) will provide adequate control of this disorder. A fungi- 

 cide is commonly applied with the Stopscald to reduce decay during 

 storage. Two new fungicides currently being tested show great 

 promise for controlling decay of pears. Benomyl at 300-500 ppm 

 and thiabendazole at 500-700 ppm, both applied as a postharvest dip, 

 have given excellent decay control on pears. However, neither ma- 

 terial has yet received EPA clearance and therefore, neither may 

 yet be used commercially. 



Pears have been shown to respond well to CA , although the com- 

 mercial adoption of this storage method has been less for pears 

 than for apples. It has been found in the West that the best at- 

 mosphere for Bartlett and Anjou is dependent on the maturity of 

 the fruit. If picked at the recommended firmness, 1% 0^, and 5% CO^ 

 produce a major benefit in preserving quality. However, if the 

 fruit are softer than this at harvest, they possess a sensitivity 

 to CO2 that results in the development of browncore. In California, 

 it is recommended that such fruit, if stored in CA, be held at 1% Op 

 and near 0% CO^- In New York, tests have produced a recommenda- 

 tion of 2.5% Op and less than 2.5% COp for maximum benefits on 

 Bartlett and Bosc, and these recommenaati ons may be considered as 

 best for Eastern-grown pears. This recommendation does not make a 

 distinction for maturity differences, because pears destined for 

 storage should be harvested at the recommended firmness. 



The New York tests have shown that while pears and apples can 

 generally be stored together without harm, an interaction between 

 Bartlett pears and Delicious apples can occur that results in an 

 increased rate of breakdown of the pears. It would therefore ap- 

 pear wise to store apples and pears separately if possible. 



Varieties differ in their storage life, and this inherent dif- 

 ference is accentuated by the harvest maturity and the storage con- 

 ditions to which they are subjected. In general, however, Bartletts 

 seldom keep well beyond December-January, Boscs beyond February, or 

 Anjous beyond March. Pears may lose their capacity to ripen prop- 

 erly with too-long storage, and this terminal point of storage is 

 usually shown by light yellowing of the skin of pears in the stor- 

 age room. 



Trade Name. 



