Oranges
Recommended
Conventional cooling
Dynamic Cooling
Pre-cooling
De-greening
Ripening
General Tips for Oranges
| Storage temperature | Relative Humidity (RH) | Duration | Pre-cooling | Sensitivity to ethylene | Ethylene Production | Controlled Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Storage temperature:
2° - 4° C
|
Relative Humidity (RH):
88%-92%
|
Duration:
2 - 4 months
|
Pre-cooling:
Not required
|
Sensitivity to ethylene:
Very low
|
Ethylene Production:
Very low
|
Controlled Atmosphere:
Not recommended
|
Storage Temperature: Recommended range is 2 °C – 4 °C. |
High Humidity: Use an air-cooler with a low air–product temperature differential (ΔT). |
De-greening: Process only the required fruit quantity according to the capacity of the ripening room. |
Storage Duration: Recommended period is 2 - 4 months |
Ventilation: Install a digitally controlled ventilation system for precise air exchange management. |
Controlled Atmosphere: Not recommended — uneconomical for small-scale production, offering limited advantages in total storage duration. |
IMPORTANT TIPS
- Avoid temperatures below the recommended range, as these cause peel injury and surface burns.
- For post-harvest pest control, apply cold treatment at 2 °C for 24 hours after first raising fruit sugar content by keeping them at 15 °C for one week.
- Maintain low CO₂ levels, which help preserve fruit quality.
- De-green oranges using 1–10 ppm ethylene at 22 °C – 24 °C, 90 % – 95 % RH, for 2–3 days.
- Monitor sugar content at harvest using optical refractometers — optimal range is 8.5 °Brix – 9 °Brix.
- Disinfect cold-storage chambers before use.
- Check juice content before harvest — minimum 40 % is recommended.
- Disinfect and wax fruit before storage to extend shelf life and maintain appearance.