What are the Storage Conditions of Nectarine in Controlled Atmosphere Cold Storage?

In recent years, the installation of controlled atmosphere (CA) fresh-keeping cold storage for the storage of nectarines has brought significant economic development to both production and sales.

The installation and design of the fresh-keeping cold storage for nectarines also need to be determined according to the storage characteristics of nectarines.

Since nectarines are stone fruits and their ripening period is in the high-temperature season, their storability is not as good as that of other fruits such as apples, grapes, and pears. Therefore, the fresh-keeping and storage of nectarines are also highly valued by fruit farmers.

The relatively suitable storage temperature for nectarines in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage is 0 - 1℃. Nectarines have a relatively high freezing point, so the temperature of the cold storage must be well controlled. The peaches should not be allowed to freeze, otherwise, it will directly affect the quality of the peaches and thus limit their storage.

The relative humidity for nectarines in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage is 90% - 95%. Because the skin of nectarines is relatively thin and it is difficult to retain the moisture of the fruit, and most of the villi on the skin are connected to the lenticels, increasing the surface area of the nectarines. As a result, the moisture of the fruit is extremely likely to be lost.

Therefore, a suitable humidity needs to be maintained in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage to prevent the moisture of the fruit from easily flowing away.

The proportion of gas components for nectarines in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage is as follows: O₂ is 8% - 10%, and CO₂ does not exceed 1%. Nectarines are very sensitive to CO₂. The storage environment must avoid the accumulation of CO₂, and it is best that there is no ethylene in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage where nectarines are stored.

In an ordinary environment, when the CO₂ content exceeds 1%, CO₂ damage will occur, with the pulp changing color and developing an unusual odor. When stored in a CA fresh-keeping cold storage at 0℃, with an oxygen content of 8% - 10% and a carbon dioxide content of 3% - 5%, nectarines can be stored for 60 - 80 days.

After the CA fresh-keeping cold storage is installed according to the storage requirements of nectarines, there are also certain requirements for the selection of nectarines for storage.
First of all, for nectarines to be stored in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage, fruits with a lightening background color, plump shape, slightly less pubescence, slightly firm texture, and a small amount of coloring on the sunny side, which are about 80% ripe, should be selected. Such fruits are more resistant to storage.
The harvesting time is preferably in the morning of a sunny day. After picking, the nectarines to be stored in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage should be fruits without pests and damage, which are then packaged and boxed.
Before preparing to store nectarines in the CA fresh-keeping cold storage, it should be disinfected and precooled first, and then enter long-term storage.
Choosing a CA fresh-keeping cold storage to store nectarines is the best choice for fruit farmers and distributors to increase economic benefits!