Some effects of packaging and merchandising on the quality of McIntosh apples in New York City /

Abstract

In a comparison of four different packages, cell cartons gave the most protection to Mcintosh apples from rough treatment in transit to New. York City from packinghouses 80 to 100 miles away. Apples prepackaged in trays with heat-shrinkable film, overwrapped and packed in cartons, were next best protected. The weakness of the tray-separating partition was the major failing of this otherwise very satisfactory pack. The rough transit treatment caused considerable bruising and puncture damage on fruit prepackaged in polyethylene bags. The worst damage occurred on fruit in jumblefilled cartons. The condition of the fruit in polyethylene bags, in shrink-film overwrapped trays, and from cell packs was compared in New York City supermarkets during 1-to 2-day retail test periods. In the stores, the quality of Mcintosh apples was maintained best in prepackaged trays overwrapped with shrink-film. Apples in the trays had fewer bruises and punctures and, when held 4 days at 70 F. beyond the retail period, less than 1 percent decayed. The merchandising of the fruit from cell cartons in bulk, the usual commercial practice, resulted in the bruising and puncturing of many fruit during the retail test period. Prepackaged poly-bagged fruit sustained the most mechanical injury from the handling encountered in retail stores. The holding of poly-bagged and bulk-displayed fruit 4 days at 70 F. past the retail period brought on the development of many decays at the sites of punctures. BACKGROUND Despite recent improvements in the handling of apples in the orchard (8), in the packinghouse (1,3,6), and during shipment to market (5,9), mechanical injury continues to be the major problem in the merchandising of Mcintosh apples. 1 Surveys in several States (2, 5,_7), disclosed that the inferior condition of Mcintosh apples in retail stores is due chiefly to punctures and bruises. It was found that much of this damage occurs after the apples leave the packinghouse. Good condition in apples when packaged can virtually disappear overnight, sometimes before the fruit reaches the retail shelves. In addition, mechanically damaged fruit is particularly susceptible to decay. Underscored figures in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 9.

The nature and extent of retail and consumer losses in apples, oranges, lettuce, peaches, strawberries, and potatoes marketed in Greater New York /

“…Both types of wholesale suppliers were alternated weekly whenever possible during the marketing period for each commodity. However, the selection of the wholesale 1 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 22.…”

“…This lapse did not apply to strawberries that were usually retailed 1 or days after arriving at wholesale outlets.…”

“…Retail samples were examined in the stores. Consumer samples were examined after holding fruits for 1 week at 38°t o 40°. Internal and external defects, and the losses incurred by them, were evaluated.…”

“…(6). Prepackaging apples in plastic film-overwrapped consumer trays has also been beneficial in reducing bruise damage (1).…”

“…The estimated wholesale value of all fresh fruits and vegetables unloaded on the New York market in 1969 was $450 million (14, 1 7)1 . The retail value of this fresh produce, with an average markup of 67 percent, was $750 million.…”