Packing of fruit
Most apple pack lines in South Africa have water flumes, which contain 25 to 50 ppm chlorine at
a pH of between 5.5 and 8. Apples are not waxed in South Africa, as waxed fruit do not fetch a
premium price. The average size of South African fruit is two counts smaller than fruit grown in
the USA. Due to the high risk of damage to the fruit, apples are not pre-graded or pre-sized.
Percentage pack out varies greatly with cultivar and season and may range from 15% to 40% in
Fuji and 25% in Pink Lady® brand and Cripps Pink cv. apples. Fruit that do not make the export
grade are either sold on the local market or are sent for processing. Apple cultivars susceptible to
shrivel are packed in 37.5μ or 60μ bags. These bags also help maintain flesh firmness and skin
colour. Fruit may also be packed into 800 g thrift bags that firmly hold the apples together
preventing compact bruises and rub marks. Some pack houses may apply an edible coating to the
fruit on the pack line. One such product is SemperFresh®, which is reputed to improve storage
quality and extend shelf life of the fruit.