The treatment consists of a period of warming (approach time) which can be faster or slower depending on a commodity's sensitivity to high temperatures. Then there is a holding period when the interior temperature of the produce reaches
the desired temperature for the length of time required to kill the insect. The last part is the cooling down period which can be air cooling (slow) or hydrocooling (fast). Thus, there are a number of components of the treatment which can be manipulated to ®nd the best combination for elimination of the insect pest without damaging the commodity.