Fruit Storage
Okanagan North
owns and maintains modern fruit storage and packing facilities. The life of
an apple is not over at harvest, but instead may continue for many months
later depending on the quality and variety of apple. Some of our apples are
put into long term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and kept there for up
to eight months. This special type of storage regulates the oxygen content
to extremely low levels in conjunction with temperatures just above freezing
to prevent the fruit from ripening. The fruit not stored in CA storage is
kept in regular cold storage where oxygen levels are not regulated. This is
usually the first fruit that is packed after harvest.
Color Sorting and Sizing
From cold storage or CA, apples stored in bulk bins, containing
approximately 800lbs of fruit each are brought into the facility to determine
size and color. The bins of bulk fruit are forced under water and the apples
float free from the bins and are transported by water. Colour sorting is done
by a mechanized color sorter. The color sorter has a system of cameras that
analyze each apple as it passes by the cameras. The data obtained by the cameras
is then passed to a computer, which grades each apple. Apples are then passed
on to the sizer. The sizer weighs each apple and distributes them into specific
flumes depending on the grade and size of the apple. The apple sizer and color
sorter are tied together via computer. Because of the tie, all the apples
of similar size and appearance are grouped together i.e. BC Extra-Fancy 72's
will grouped together (BC Extra-Fancy A is the grade, 72 is the size which
is in reference to 72 apples per bushel. The larger the apple the smaller
the number). At this point the graded apples are put back into the bulk bins
ready for storage and/or packaging.
Packaging
Before packing
the fruit, the apples have a layer of wax applied as their natural wax was
removed at the sorting and sizing stage. The wax brings back the shiny luster
that the apple is often known for. Packaging of the fruit is done by hand
and is packed in boxes or 3, 5 or 10 pound plastic bags. After the bagged
fruit has been packaged, it is then placed in either large totes or regular
sized apple boxes.
Final Steps
The boxes of
both tray packed and bagged fruit are then inventoried and stamped with the
variety, date of packing. From the stamper, the boxes filled with apples are
sealed and sent to cold storage to await shipment by refrigerated truck to
distributors or supermarkets.
