Apples: From Farm to Table

Summary

This video details the process of sorting and packaging apples, highlighting the careful techniques used to ensure quality and freshness. The apples are first transported gently using water and polished with wax to prevent desiccation. Advanced technology such as color cameras and infrared sensors are used to inspect each apple, sorting them by size, color, and defects. Apples are then packed in cardboard boxes, with traceability measures in place, and stored in controlled atmospheres to slow down respiration until they are ready for packing and distribution. The key to freshness lies in proper harvesting and storage conditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apples are carefully handled to ensure freshness, starting with packaging in cardboard boxes for protection during transportation.
• 😀 There are between 20 and 25 different apple varieties handled, including McIntosh, Honey Crisp, and Gala.
• 😀 Samples of apples are collected before harvest to determine the best time to pick them for optimal taste and storage longevity.
• 😀 Apples are gently transported using water, which removes their natural wax, which is then replaced during the washing and polishing process.
• 😀 Waxing apples helps prevent desiccation and extends their shelf life in stores.
• 😀 Technology is employed to sort apples by weight, size, color, and defects, using advanced systems like color and infrared cameras.
• 😀 The sorting technology evaluates apples using 20 pictures per fruit to assess defects and quality against set standards.
• 😀 Apples are packed into cardboard boxes with labels for traceability, including information on the variety, origin, size, and packing date.
• 😀 A barcode is placed on the packaging for firm identification and tracking purposes, ensuring traceability from farm to store.
• 😀 Apples are stored in controlled atmosphere rooms where oxygen levels are reduced to slow down their respiration, effectively putting them to 'sleep' until they're ready for packing.
• 😀 When ready, oxygen is reintroduced to the apples, waking them up before they are packed and sent to grocery stores for sale.

Q & A

Why are apples packaged in cardboard boxes?

Apples are packaged in cardboard boxes to protect them during transportation and provide a facility to mark the fruit for identification, including its variety and size.

What are some of the apple varieties mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions McIntosh, Ida Red, Honey Crisp, Brosius, Gala, Crispin, and Golden as some of the apple varieties handled.

How does technology assist in sorting apples?

Technology uses color cameras, infrared cameras, and other sensors to take about 20 pictures of each apple, measuring aspects like color, size, and defects. This helps sort the apples into different categories, such as fresh market or processing.

What is the role of water in the apple handling process?

Water is used to gently transport apples, removing their natural bloom or wax. After washing, a replacement wax is applied to protect the apples and extend their shelf life.

What is the purpose of waxing apples?

Waxing apples helps prevent desiccation, protects the fruit during storage, and extends the shelf life of the apples by sealing in moisture.

How are apples stored to maintain freshness?

Apples are stored in controlled atmosphere rooms where oxygen levels are reduced to slow down the respiration process, effectively putting the apples into a 'sleep' mode until they're ready to be packed.

How is the time of harvest determined for apples?

The time of harvest is determined based on sampling apples before the harvest season to assess their quality. The goal is to pick apples at the right time for optimal taste and storage potential.

What kind of technology is used to sort apples?

The technology includes optical sensors, infrared cameras, and weight scales that evaluate apples based on color, size, and defects. The apples are then sorted according to specific parameters for either fresh market or processing.

Why is traceability important in the apple packaging process?

Traceability is important for ensuring that consumers can identify the origin of the apples. The packaging includes barcodes and markings indicating the variety, firm, and date of packing, allowing for easy tracking of the apples' journey.

What happens when apples are ready to be packed after storage?

When apples are ready to be packed, oxygen is gradually reintroduced to 'wake up' the apples from their slowed-down state. They are then packed and sent to grocery stores for sale.