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Product Receiving and Storage
Accept only clean, wholesome apples that meet the minimum quality standards for "U.S. Cider Grade"; that is, "free from decay, wormholes, and internal breakdown."
Heavily bruised, punctured, or decaying apples or fruits that are obviously contaminated with soil or bird feces should be discarded. Packers should insist that apples are grown in accordance with the Good Management Practices for orchard operations detailed in the previous section.
Additional care should be taken to protect fresh field-packed apples from possible contamination from exposure to manure and animal fecal material in the soil. Operators of open packing facilities also should be aware of potential contamination from airborne contaminants from any nearby livestock or poultry areas or manure storage or treatment facilities.
Inspect containers upon receipt for cleanliness or damage.
Bins or crates may become a source of contamination if they are soiled when they enter a dump tank. As much adhering dirt as practical should be removed with clean running water.
Damaged container surfaces may cause damage to the surface of apples and make them more difficult to wash. Moreover, smooth container surfaces are desirable because they have fewer protective places for bacteria to survive and accumulate.
Store apples in a cool area, free from pests.
Clean apples cannot remain clean in dirty surroundings. If apples have been contaminated in the orchard, pathogens will grow quickly at warm temperatures. If apples are to be stored for an extended period of time, quickly cool and store them at 45 degrees F or lower.