The distribution of fruit involves both handling and transportation, and as a result, considerable product damage occurs at various stages throughout the distribution system. The factors affecting damage are the same for all fruit, i.e. the physical properties of the fruit itself, the static and dynamic performance of the packaging and containers, the influence of individual fruit and neighboring fruit in modifying the impact and vibration input, the energy inputs to the system from handling at loading and sorting stages and from the transport operations from farm, through markets, to retail outlet. These factors are inter-related and together control the amount of fruit damage