Checking Flesh Temperature of Fruit.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 2, 15 August 1941, Page 156

Checking Flesh Temperature of Fruit.

Cool Storage Notes

THE flesh temperature is the most reliable guide to the temperature of the fruit, and, taken regularly, it' will materially assist the store engineer in obtaining good results with fruit held in cool storage. To enable this to be carried out it will be necessary to use a flesh temperature thermometer to check up on the actual flesh temperature of the fruit in the cases in various parts of the stack of fruit cases. This check will readily reveal any faults in the system of air distribution, whether due to wrong methods of stacking the fruit or any other cause. Flesh temperature thermometers are procurable in a metal case at 16s each. Pears. All pears still held in copl storage should have been thoroughly examined to ascertain whether their condition is suitable for a further

period of storage, as rots may cause deterioration and loss by contact with the surrounding fruit if the first signs of the development of this form of deterioration are not detected. The sorting out and stacking of pears to grow- . ers’ registered numbers will facilitate inspection and the marketing of the fruit in time to avoid losses. Apples. A stocktaking of all apples still held in storage ’ should have been completed, and a careful' examination of the various lines of the different varieties will be necessary in order to check up on the condition of the fruit from week to week as the season advances. Varieties such as Delicious, Rome Beauty, Statesman, Golden Delicious, Cleopatra and Rokewood should have been sorted out and carefully examined and released on the market according to the state of their maturity, size, or condition. ' a

Many lines of apples held in cool storage contain a percentage of fruits marked by contact with the sizing machine. These marks detract greatly from the appearance of fruit, as they discolour and also encourage deterioration from rots. Regular attention should be given to the cleanliness of the bins, rollers, and all parts of the sizing machine that come in contact with fruit in the process of sizing and packing. - ’ \

-A. A. POWELL,

L, Cool Storage

Officer, Wellington.