Lemon fruit benefit from a postharvest wax application. Much of the surface wax on the
peel of the fruit is removed during cleaning. Waxing retards moisture loss and the rate of
shrivel, thereby extending market life. Water-emulsion waxes do not require completely
dry fruit, so the wax can be applied right after washing and grading. In small volume
operations, the wax can be applied manually by rubbing individual lemons with a water-emulsion
wax soaked cloth. Larger volume operations will find it more efficient to apply
the wax automatically from overhead spray jets as the fruit is moving underneath on a
series of slowly rotating (not more than 100 rpm) horsehair-type roller brushes.