Storage & Handling Info at Retail
Miscellaneous pointers
- Keep unwashed fruit in the original shipping carton, generally at 32.5°F/1.7°C and at relatively high humidity to help maintain freshness and keep fruit from shrivelling.
- Keep handling to a minimum to avoid bruising.
- Do not store or transport odour-sensitive items with commodities that produce odours.
- Do not store or transport ethylene-sensitive items with commodities that produce ethylene.
- Most fruit keeps best when stored separately from apples which are ethylene producers and would hasten ripening.
- Be food safe; avoid cross-contamination. Store fruit so that it doesn’t come into contact with unprocessed foods such as raw meat and its juices.
- Do not mist the fruit displays.
- Use apple juice on freshly cut slices to help prevent oxidation (browning).
- Remind consumers that ripe fruit is a living food and, as such, maintains its just-picked quality better under refrigeration than it does at room temperature.
Store in original containers. Rotate stock. Store separately from pears. Store at 32°F/0°C and 90–95% humidity.
- Apples will produce odours that will be absorbed by cabbage, carrots, celery, figs, onions, meat, eggs, and dairy products.
- Apples will absorb odours produced by potatoes, bulb onions or any strong-flavoured item.
Apricots, peaches, nectarines
Store at 32°F/0°C (nectarines can be stored slightly lower: 31–32°F/0.6–0°C) and 90–95% humidity with good air circulation.
BlueberriesStore separately from apples at 33–34°F/1°C and 90–95% humidity.
CherriesStorage at 32°F/0°C and 90% humidity helps retain green stem colour and keep cherries plump. Important to keep cherries chilled; one hour at room temperature produces more loss in quality than a full day at proper storage temperature.
GrapesStore at 32–34°F/0–1.1°C and 90–95% humidity.
PearsOptimum storage conditions at a consistent 32°F, or 0°C. Keep the pears in their original shipping containers. Always handle pears carefully. Store pears separately from apples.
- Pears will produce odours that will be absorbed by cabbage, carrots, celery, figs, onions, meat, eggs, and dairy products.
- Pears will absorb odours produced by potatoes, bulb onions or any strong-flavoured item.
Display under refrigeration if possible. Store at 32°F/0°C and 85–90% humidity.
Raspberries, strawberriesImportant to keep cool with good air circulation. Store at 32–34°F/0–1.1°C and 90–95% humidity.
