12- 



GRADE DEFECTS ON MCINTOSH APPLES: 

 STRIP VERSUS SELECTIVE PICKINGS 



1 2 "^ 



Henry M. Bahn , Janice O'Kelley and Glenn Morin 



In a previous study o£ causes of defects on Mcintosh apples 

 (FRUIT NOTES, Volume 45, No. 5) we noted a large variation in 

 packout rates ranging from 96.7 percent to 46.6 percent. We felt 

 this variation was due at least in part to the fact that the 1979- 

 1980 samples included both strip picked and selectively picked 

 (picked for color) fruit. In repeating the study this past year 

 we separated the fruit into 2 categories: strip picked and 

 selectively picked apples. 



Sampling Procedure 



We used the same general sampling format as was employed in 

 the previous study. A total of 16 packing sheds were visited 

 between January and March 1981 and the amount of fruit packed, 

 cullage and the reason for culling were noted. A total of 3,930 

 bushels were packed and 885 bushels were culled for an overall 

 packout rate of 77.5 percent. The culls were inspected in the 

 same manner as in 1979-80 although the volume of culls in 1981 

 did not allow the inspector to check each apole. Depending on 

 the volume of culls and the length of the sampling period, the 

 inspector checked from 15 to 100°o of the culls to determine the 

 reason for rejection. An average of 69% of the culls were phy- 

 sically inspected. The same individual insnected the culls in 

 1980 and 1981. 



Resul ts 



Composition of defects . The cull rate and reasons for culling 

 were similar for 1979-80 and 1981 (Table 1). The largest differ- 

 ences between the years were in color and size, russeting and 

 "other". The large difference in the "other" category can be 

 traced to hail damage and to soot due to malfunctioning refriger- 

 ation equipment at one packing shed in 1981, 



Insect and disease damage totaled 0.9% of total fruit packed 

 in 1979-80 and 1.0% in 1981. This indicates the importance growers 

 place on controlling pests and disease and of the effectiveness 

 of preventative measures. 



1 



Extension Farm Management Specialist, Food and Resource Economics. 

 2 



Agricultural Business Management, Stockbridge School of Agriculture 

 3 



Senior Pest Management Scout, Department of Entomology. 



