Table 5. — Prevalence of various disorders In Starking Delicious apples from controlled- 

 atmosphere cabinets and from regular storage after prolonged holding in normal atmos- 

 pheres 



After 1 month at 70° F. 



Cabinet 

 No. 



Wrap used 

 on fruit 



Scald 



Breakdown 



Core and flesh 

 browning 



Decay- 



1 



2 



3 



None 



Oil paper 



None 



Oil paper 



None 



Oil paper 



None 



Oil paper 



Percent 

 22.6 

 8.1 



32.9 

 12.7 



17.3 

 14.5 



34.3 

 11.5 



Percent 

 10.7 

 5.4 



8.9 

 12.4 



8.5 

 6.2 



4.1 

 1.9 



Percent 

 45.3 



31.1 



46.3 

 45.0 



18.7 

 11.8 



18.6 

 12.5 



Percent 



12.8 

 7.6 



13.3 

 7.4 



31.7 

 23.5 



4.1 

 9.4 



Check^ 



- - ■ " " • 



After 1 month at 31° F. , 1 week at 70° F. 



1 



2 



3 



Check 1 



None 

 None 



Oil paper 

 Oil paper 



28.1 

 9.3 

 4.5 

 5.7 



8.0 

 2.6 

 4.3 



1.4 



42.0 



37.4 



36.4 



1.4 



8.0 



1.3 



19.8 



1 4 







Regular-air storage. 



The apples from the controUed-atmosphere cabinets ripened and became mealy 

 without developing the staleness characterized by acetaldehyde, which generally accom- 

 panies mealiness in air-stored fruit. 



* DISCUSSION 



The results show clearly that fruit stored in controlled atmosphere was firmer and 

 had a better texture than fruit stored in regular air. However, controlled-atmosphere 

 storage caused loss of varietal flavor. Even after the fruit had been held a week to free 

 it from off -flavors, it dici not have the flavor characteristic of the variety. 



This effect on the condition and flavor of .apples raises a problem for commercial 

 users of controlled-atmosphere storage. These users may find that the fruit they are 

 trying to sell is in better condition than fruit from regular storage, but that their fruit 

 lacks flavor appeal. Although appearance and texture are probably the most important 

 factors in sales at the wholesale level, they may be less important at the retail level. 

 Poor flavor or lack of flavor might influence the consumer against repeat purchasing. 

 Information on this aspect of the problem is beyond the scope of this investigation, but 

 it must be noted that any large-scale operation of controlled-atmosphere storage for 

 Starking Delicious apples would involve the hazard of merchandising fruit lacking true 

 Delicious flavor. It is possible, however, that since controlled-atmosphere fruit with- 

 stands prolonged exposure to room temperatures without developing stale acetaldehyde 

 flavor, such fruit would appeal to customers and counteract sales resistance engendered 

 by lack of varietal flavor. 



12 - 



