Apple Stages: From the Tree to the Grocery Store

Arctic® Apples Backgrounder

USApple Arctic® Backgrounder The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved five varieties of Arctic® apples for commercial production: Arctic® Golden, Arctic® Granny, Arctic® Fuji, Arctic® Gala and, Arctic® Honey. Arctic brand apples are a product of biotechnology.  In the U.S., for a biotech trait to be commercialized it must receive approval from the USDA that it is safe to release … Continued

Rice Fruit Co: Behind the Scenes of Apple Businesses During COVID-19

When COVID-19 hit south-central Pennsylvania in mid-March, it became clear that daily operations at Rice Fruit Company needed to change immediately and drastically to adapt to their status as an essential business. As the vice president of sales and marketing, Brenda Briggs helped the more than 100-year-old family-run business act quickly to keep employees safe … Continued

Rinse & Refrigerate

A simple rinse under the tap is all that is needed to clean your apples. Upon arrival at the packing facility, apples are thoroughly washed to remove any dirt from the orchard. Once you’ve rinsed them, be sure to refrigerate your apples to keep them longer. By storing apples in the refrigerator, they will last … Continued

Chlorpyrifos Backgrounder

Several years ago, environmental groups petitioned EPA to revoke all tolerances for chlorpyrifos due to alleged impacts on drinking water and human health. The claims were largely based on a series of epidemiological studies that could not be substantiated or replicated, and were contradicted by actual monitoring data from sources such as the Washington State … Continued

Apple Juice and Arsenic Backgrounder

What is arsenic? Arsenic is an element that can be found in water, air and soil. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arsenic occurs in the environment from erosion of arsenic-containing rocks, volcanic eruptions and contamination from various industrial sources. In the early to mid-1900s, arsenical insecticides were used in agriculture.  Insecticides containing arsenic were … Continued

Apple Storage Backgrounder

How old is an apple by the time someone buys it at the grocery store?The question should not be about the “age” of the apple, or the time since it was picked, but rather it should be about how fresh the apple is. Growers and researchers have focused on the challenge of maintaining the freshness … Continued

Apple Stages: From the Tree to the Grocery Store

What are the stages of an apple after it’s picked?Apples picked in the orchard are carefully (to avoid bruising) placed in harvest bins with a capacity of roughly 20 bushels (each bushel weighs about 42 pounds) that have been placed between the orchard rows to be collected as they are filled. The full bins are … Continued