According to the latest announcement of the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA), the price of apples remains stable because the production volume slightly declined.
Two main reasons for the smaller harvest this year are extreme weather conditions and a labor shortage that results from quarantine measures. In addition, the general market conditions suffer from the ongoing pandemic and there are many obstacles for fruit distribution. That is why apple storage will become one of the main issues for the apple industry this season.
A spokesperson for Shandong AWT Biotech, one of the leading companies in cold storage for apples, recently talked about methods for keeping apples fresh, including Logfresh 1-MCP technology.
The key to slowing down the ripening process is ethylene
Manager Li of the Shandong AWT Research Department explained, "in order to keep the apple fresh and maintain its nutritional value, we have to slow down the ripening process. The ripening process speeds up under the influence of high temperatures and oxygen. High temperatures allow fungi to settle on the apple peel and take root, which causes the apple to rot. If the air conditioning is too cold, the apple will lose moisture and shrink. If you want to maintain the freshness and product quality of a large volume of apples, then your storage space has to meet certain requirements: first, the fruit has to be healthy and without damage. The fruit has to be harvested at the right time. Then, you have to strictly control the temperature, moisture, and gas circulation in the cold storage warehouse. That is how you slow down the breathing process in apples."
"Whether you use cold storage or air-conditioned storage, the key to maintaining the nutrients and firmness of apples during storage is control over ethylene. Under the right conditions the storage period can be extended by three months," said manager Li. "Ethylene is released during the ripening process. Ethylene in turn promotes the combination of RNA and proteins, which speeds up the breathing process, and this in turn stimulates ripening and organic decay."
Pure 1-MCP extends the period an apple remains fresh
"1-MCP is a competitive ethylene suppressant. Whether ethylene is produced in the apple or comes from the environment, 1-MCP binds with the ethylene receptors in the fruit to neutralize it. The lack of active ethylene temporarily halts the ripening process. Only when the fruit is taken out of cold storage and exposed to fresh air do the cells in the fruit flesh start producing ethylene receptors again. Only then do the biochemical reactions of the ripening process start up. The freshness and product quality of apples remains well preserved during the period in storage," explained manager Li.
Logfresh technology connects 1-MCP to ethylene receptors in apples within 24 hours. The apples can then be stored under regular conditions in cold storage warehouses. The Logfresh technology effectively protects the apples in storage from plant disease and maintains the firmness, crispness, color, flavor, fragrance, and nutrients in apples. Logfresh technology uses 1-MCP with a high purity. The treatment is not harmful to personnel or the environment. The technology has successfully been applied to apples, pears, kiwi fruit, avocados, bananas, tomatoes, and fresh-cut flowers.
Shandong AWT Biotech Co., Ltd. has more than 25 years of experience with research for the fresh produce industry. The company emphasizes product research and technological innovation. The company developed a series of methyl-propylene products to keep fruit fresh, as well as ripening stimulants for mangoes and bananas. The new 1-MCP products are already certified in Turkey and Columbia, and the company is currently in negotiation with retailers from a number of countries. Retailers with interest in 1-MCP products are encouraged to contact Shandong AWT Biotech.
For more information:
Wang - Manager
Shandong AWT Biotech Co., Ltd.
WhatsApp: +86 18615225880
WeChat: +8618615225869
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.chinesepost-harvest.com
