Increased Risk of Diffuse Skin Browning in Goldens in 2018
Increased Risk of Skin Browning in Golden Delicious this Season
Prompt removal of field heat and SmartFreshTM treatment is generally good advice for Eastern storage operators. However, handling practices for Golden Delicious this season may provide an exception. Golden Delicious are susceptible to a surface browning disorder identified as "diffuse skin browning" (DSB). These skin browning symptoms appear early in storage and may be considered a "chilling disorder" since rapid field heat removal increases the disorder.
Control of DSB in Goldens is a regular concern in warmer growing regions, but is seldom seen in New York. This pattern of appearance implies that Goldens may be more susceptible to DSB following warm seasons such as this one. The disorder is successfully controlled by slowing field heat removal after harvest and delaying SmartFresh treatment.
SmartFresh use recommendations for Golden Delicious suggest:
- Maintaining air discharge temperatures at evaporators above 36o F
- Delay SmartFresh treatment until fruit has reached 40o F, but within 8 days of harvest
- Vent storage rooms to prevent the buildup of CO2 during temperature pull down
- Gradually reduce fruit temperature to holding temperature of 33 - 34o F
- In CA rooms, maintain less than 1% CO2 during the first six weeks of storage
Note: that the suggested slowed cooling rate and delay of SmartFresh treatment applies only to Golden Delicious.
Upcoming Events
Apple Social
July 16, 2024 : Orleans County - Apple Social
Medina, NY
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will just a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from each of the four specialists.
July 31, 2024 : Wayne County - Apple Social
Williamson, NY
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will just a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from each of the four specialists.
2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour
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August 13, 2024
Medina, NY
We are excited to announce the second annual Western New York Fruit Grower Tour, the premier fruit tour of the northeast brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Lake Ontario Ag Consulting, LLC! Located in Orleans County, this orchard field day will highlight new and existing products, chemistries, practices, technologies & equipment that shape the orchard industry today. The Western NY Fruit Grower Tour will again combine two past orchard tour events, the LOF Summer Fruit Tour and the Wayne County Fruit Grower Tour, giving industry members the opportunity to conveniently showcase their product offerings to ONE unified group at ONE time and place!
9th Annual Hispanic Summer Tour
August 17, 2024
Lyndonville, NY
Join Mario Miranda Sazo, Janet van Zoeren, Sandra Lizarraga, from CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Mary Bess Lewis from Cornell Ag Workforce Development for the annual summer tour of orchard and educational updates on IPM, horticulture, HR, leadership, and labor all presented in Spanish.