doctor Luiz Carlos Argenta, researcher and plant physiologist at the Agricultural Research Company of Santa Catarina – Epagri, responds to questions from a member of the Clube Ivalda Sampaio, from Limeira, SP:

Does the apple ripen after being picked?
– Yes, apples ripen after picking. This can be observed by the softening of the pulp (reduced pulp firmness) and increased aroma. In the bicolor cultivars, the ripening of the apples after harvesting can be observed by the yellowing of the skin, which is no longer an evident mark of the postharvest ripening of apples because most of the new cultivars have a reddish surface.

Conservation of Apple Quality by the Producer After Harvest
The accelerated ripening of apples after harvesting can result in quality deterioration, which is why the fruit goes from the orchard to the conditioning station where it is cleaned, classified and kept under refrigeration until it leaves for the market when it passes into the care of the customers who will take it to consumer distribution networks. Producers guide their customers on what care they should practice to keep the fruit in good quality conditions until it reaches the consumer. (Learn more: Brazilian Apple from Orchard to Your Table)

Consumption and Conservation of Apples at Home

If you want to consume the most ripe (soft) apples, just leave them out of the fridge. If you notice that the apple wilts outside the fridge, then keep them in a perforated plastic bag. If you want to preserve the quality by keeping them fresh and crunchy for longer, take them to the fridge packed in plastic bags. By the way, in the refrigerator, it is important to always keep the apples packed in a plastic bag.