32 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 360 



SUMMARY 



Storage facilities are needed on most fruit farms for the orderly marketing of 

 the crop. Location of the storage on the farm makes it possible to put the apples 

 in storage promptly and with the least handling, permits sorting, grading, and 

 packing of the fruit by the regular farm help, and keeps the fruit under the care 

 and control of the grower until it is sold. 



For satisfactory operation of a storage, it is essential to have a suitable building 

 provided with proper cooling equipment and to store only fruit having a market 

 value which will justify the e.xpense of storage. The conditions to be observed 

 are listed below: 



1. Fruit intended for storage should be picked at the optimum stage of ma- 

 turity. 



2. Apples which are to be stored for a long period — three months or more — 

 should be of U. S. Commercial grade or better. Drops may in some years be 

 stored to advantage for short periods. 



3. Apples placed in storage should be handled carefulh . They should be 

 picked, put in the storage package, and transported from orchard to warehouse 

 in such a manner that bruising is kept at a minimum. 



4. A common storage should have the exposed walls and ceilings insulated 

 to protect against frost and to help hold low temperatures obtained from the 

 ground and from the circulation of cold night air. Fans should be provided for 

 ventilation and circulation of cold air for cooling purposes. 



5. In a refrigerated storage, the floors, walls, and ceilings should be insulated 

 to reduce heat leakage. Cooling equipment of ample capacity should be installed 

 to maintain proper temperature. Positive air circulation by fans driving air over 

 the evaporating coils assures uniform temperature and rapid cooling of fruit 

 throughout the storage. 



6. Apples which are to be held for a long period should be stored at 32° F. 

 Mcintosh apples which are to be marketed b}' January 1 can be held at 45° at 

 the time of harvest and reduced to 32° by the third week after picking. This 

 treatment will allow the apples to develop better flavor than if stored continu- 

 ously at 32°. During the storage period, relative humidity should be maintained 

 at not less than 85 percent. 



7. Fall varieties of apples such as Mcintosh may be kept in common storage 

 for short periods, particularly if they are to be distributed direct to retail dealers. 

 Late varieties may be held for longer periods if distributed in the same manner. 

 Apples held in common storage usually sell at considerably lower prices than 

 similar fruit held in cold storage, if they are sold through jobbers. 



8. Good management is essential to assure satisfactory operation of a cold 

 storage. Proper temperature and humidity must be maintained, pressure gauges 

 watched from day to day to check the functioning of machinery, coils defrosted, 

 and equipment and rooms kept neat and clean. 



Publication of this Document .\f>i'Ro\ED bv Commission on Administration and Finance 

 <)500-4-'39. No. (>93<). 



