Overview
ISO 2826:1974 - Apricots: Guide to cold storage is an international guidance document describing accepted methods to achieve effective refrigerated storage of apricots. The standard covers pre‑storage harvesting and handling, recommended storage conditions (temperature, relative humidity, air circulation), storage life expectations, and preventive measures against biological and physiological defects. An annex details the standard’s limits of application, ecological influences and typical storage defects.
Key topics
- Harvesting criteria
- Fruit should be harvested with firm but juicy flesh, aromatic and, depending on variety, slightly acidic.
- Degree of maturity is variety dependent; growers must use local experience and sensory testing or penetrometers.
- Pre‑storage treatments
- Rapid cooling after harvest (ideally within 24 hours).
- Sanitation: disinfection of refrigeration rooms and packaging is recommended.
- Optional treatments: preliminary cooling in iced water, fumigation or fungicide use where permitted by national regulations.
- Wrapping packages (e.g., polyethylene) reduces moisture loss.
- Optimal storage conditions
- Temperature: recommended range around -0.5 to +0.5 °C. Some countries use higher temperatures (e.g., +5 to +8 °C) for special varieties, accepting a shorter storage life.
- Relative humidity: ~90% recommended; in some cases up to 95% to reduce weight loss.
- Air circulation: ensure uniform temperature and humidity throughout the storage room.
- Storage density: palletized stacks typically on the order of 100 kg/m³ (approximate guidance given in the document).
- Storage life
- For suitable varieties under favourable conditions expect about 2 weeks, with up to 4 weeks biologically possible when all parameters are optimized.
- Controlled atmospheres
- Use of modified or controlled atmospheres is recommended to extend storage life, with oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations adjusted by variety and orchard conditions.
- Post‑storage handling
- Gradual warming after removal from cold storage to avoid condensation; prompt consumption or processing is advised.
Applications and users
ISO 2826:1974 is practical for:
- Apricot growers and packing houses planning postharvest handling.
- Cold storage operators and logistics providers handling fresh fruit.
- Postharvest technologists, quality managers and exporters seeking to minimize weight loss and storage defects.
- Food processors (canning, freezing) deciding on temporary storage and conditioning.
Related standards
- ISO 2169 - referenced for physical definitions and measurement methods related to refrigeration rooms and storage conditions.
Keywords: ISO 2826:1974, apricots cold storage, apricot storage conditions, refrigerated storage, postharvest handling, controlled atmosphere, storage temperature, relative humidity.
