CHAPTER VI 



THE EFFECTS OF STORAGE ON FRUIT 



Keeping Qualities. There are several well-recognized 

 conditions associated with the keeping quality of fruit 

 in cold storage. Other than the storing of first-class 

 fruit, free from blemishes, etc., probably the maturity 

 of the fruit is of the most importance. Various experi- 

 ments have been conducted along this line and the re- 

 sults show plainly that well-matured specimens keep 

 much better in storage than where they are not fully 

 grown or developed. Apples intended for storage are 

 in better condition if allowed to remain on the trees 

 as long as possible, in order 

 to insure good maturity for 

 storage. 



It has also been found that 

 the color of the fruit has con- 

 siderable to do with its duration 

 in cold storage. There is ap- 

 parently no difference between 

 the keeping qualities of green 

 varieties and of the highly col- 

 ored varieties so long as the same 

 degree of maturity is maintained. 

 On the other hand, fruit low in 

 color does not keep as well under 

 normal storage conditions. Usu- 

 119 



Fig. 89. 



Highly colored, well-graded 

 fruit in closed packages keeps 

 best in storage. 



