Storage Problems

You may encounter bitter pit, Jonathan spot, lenticel breakdown, scald, or other physiological disorders on stored apples. These develop from calcium deficiency, improper storage temperature, or sanitizer exposure. Harvest at proper maturity, cool quickly, and use calcium applications in the orchard. Monitor sodium hypochlorite concentration in flume water. Most disorders are preventable with good packing-house management.

Harvesting apples at the proper stage of maturity is critical to reduce the impact of many disorders. Quick cooling and low storage temperatures help manage some of these.