Practices To Prevent Honeycrisp Postharvest Disorders
September 4, 2015 Honeycrisp can be extremely challenging to grow, harvest, and store. In the latest Penn State University Extension bulletin, Tara Baugher, senior Extension educator; James Schupp, associate professor of pomology; and Richard Marini, department head of horticulture; discuss a study conducted on storage behavior of Honeycrisp and the lessons learned along the way.
“Spot picking fruit at the optimum stage of maturity, compared to slightly immature, can reduce bitter pit, whereas soft scald and soggy breakdown can be reduced by harvesting fruit before it becomes over-mature,” they write.
Although growers reported excellent fruit quality in 2014, a number of storage disorders appeared several months later.
“Senescent breakdown, soggy breakdown, and soft scald are more prevalent when fruit are harvested when over-mature. While red color development is desirable, it is important to also consider potential losses to chilling injuries and senescent breakdown,” they write.
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