Pre-Conditioning & Ripening Manual
Chill Damage: Symptoms and Causes
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Common Symptoms of Chill Damage
- Grayish-brown discoloration of pulp
- Discoloration of the vascular bundles (stringy veins) running down the length of the fruit
- Scalding, pitting, and discoloration of the skin
- Fruit does NOT ripen properly
Low storage temperature below 41°F
Causes of Poor air temperatures
- Poor air circulation
- Low transportation temperature
- Fruit was placed in direct air flow from refrigeration unit
- Fruit overheated (90°F), then cooled rapidly
- Fruit exposed to extreme temperature
