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.
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Upcoming Events
2025 Apple Social
July 17, 2025 : Wayne County - Apple Social
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will be a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from attending specialists.
July 24, 2025 : Orleans County - Apple Social
Lyndonville, NY
Please join us at this casual networking event for all apple industry folks from Western NY, proudly sponsored by Valent. There will be a brief introduction of the Lake Ontario Fruit Program, and from attending specialists.
2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School Recordings
April 8, 2025
July 31, 2025
: Recording Available for 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School
Access to the 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School recordings are now available for purchase.
3rd Annual Western NY Fruit Growers Tour, Featuring Wayne County
July 31, 2025
Registration open!
We are excited to announce the 3rd 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 Wayne 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!
* Schedule subject to change.