Bin air-storage trial
We used a total of 45 bins, with
small (size 45) kiwifruit stored in
ethylene-free air at 32" to 33°F for 10
weeks before packaging. Fifteen bins
(replications) of kiwifruit were randomly
packed after 4,7 and 10 weeks
of storage. Bins were stacked in storage
up to nine high. The top bins werecovered by a tarp to minimize water
loss. Prior to dumping on the packing
line, kiwifruit samples were collected
for water loss evaluations from wire
baskets previously prepared and
placed in the tops of the bins. Then the
15 bins per treatment were dumped
and packed in a commercial operation.
At each packaging date, 30 fruit per
each of the 15 replications weresampled from the bottom of the bin after
dumping. Kiwifruit samples were
immediately taken to the laboratory
for firmness, SSC, bruising and decay
evaluation.