A CASE STUDY: POTENTIAL ENERGY SAVINGS USING 1-MCP WITH 'GALA' APPLES IN COMMERCIAL CA STORAGE

1-Methycyclopropene (1-MCP; SmartFresh^TM) treated apples have inhibited ripening and therefore it may be possible to store treated fruit under higher than normal storage temperatures while under controlled atmosphere (CA), to provide energy and cost savings. To test this idea, a commercial case study was carried out to track the energy usage and quality changes in ‘Gala’ apples from two identical CA storage rooms (each 210 t) filled on the same day with fruit from the same origin and stored for 5.5 months at 1.0 kPa O₂ + 2.0 kPa CO₂. One CA room was treated with 1-MCP and maintained at 4.0°C while the untreated room was kept at 1.5°C. Five grower lots, each with slightly different fruit quality characteristics were followed over the storage period with regular monitoring of fruit respiration and ethylene production. An energy balance calculated for the two rooms using the cooling equipment and CO₂ absorber run time records shows 35% less energy use for the warmer temperature room. After shelf-life at room temperature fruit quality parameters from both rooms are compared, while in a sensory test (untrained panel, n=32) 1-MCP treated ‘Gala’ apples were slightly preferred over untreated fruit.