Results and Discussion 
Inspection of the fruit at destination showed that, in all three runs, the cell packs 
provided the best protection against mechanical injury (table 1). After discounting those 
bruises noted at the packinghouse, there remained an average of almost 30 bruises over 
1/2 inch in diameter for every 100 apples shipped in the cell cartons, The amount of 
mechanical damage that occurred was similar in each test despite the softening of the 
fruit as the storage season lengthened, Stem puncturing was precluded by the cell par- 
titions which compartmented each apple. 
The pack with the overwrapped trays was tested in two runs (tests 2, 3) and fared 
second best (table 1), Because 16-tray-capacity master containers were unavailable 
during the period of transit testing, a 12-tray pack was utilized. Despite the comparative 
advantage of this lighter pack (96 apples), a considerable amount of bruising occurred 
the first time this package was tested. Much of the bruising resulted from the failure of 
the corrugated tray separator, or partition, to support the overhead layer in the bottom 
of the carton. These vertical partitions buckled under the stress induced by the dropping 
of the cartons, and as a consequence, the overhead layer came into contact with the 
apples at the bottom. In the second run, a partition made from the firmer fiberboard 
material of a layer pad was substituted and a notable reduction in bruising resulted. No 
new punctures were produced in the overwrapped fruit. 
TABLE 1.-Net increases of punctures and bruises in McIntosh apples after being subjected 
to rough handling during transit to New York City 
Size.and number of bruises 
per 100 fruit 
V2"- 3/4" 3/4N-1" 
Punctures 
per 
100 fruit 
Average 
carton 
weight 
Type of 
package* 
Carton of 
12 3-1b 
poly bags. 
Carton, 
eell (120). 
Carton, 
jumble- 
filled. 
Carton of 
12 over-wrapped 
trays. 
1 2 replicates per test. 
2 Fruit pressures (lb.) averaged 14.2 in test 1, 11.8 in test 2, and 10.5 in test 3. 
Firmness was measured by a Magness-Taylor pressure tester. 
