2. Causes of apple impact damage
2.1. The apple handling chain
A distinction has to be made between preharvest and postharvest
mechanical damage. Fruit can be injured in several ways
while still on the plant. During growth they may come into contact
with other fruit or other parts of the plant such as branches
causing abrasion, puncture and bruising. Herbivorous animals,
slugs, insects, birds and mammals, can puncture the skin and
consume a proportion of the tissue. The weather is another
important possible cause of damage: wind can aggravate damage
caused by contact with other parts; hail causes impact bruises