Apple_Final_to_USAID.pdf

SEPTEMBER 2011

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Tetra Tech ARD.

KOSOVO NEW

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

AGRICULTURE PROGRAM

APPLE SECTOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

APPLE SECTOR

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Prepared for the United States Agency for International Development, USAID Contract Number EDH-I-00-05-00006-00, TO AID-165-TO-11-00001, Kosovo New Opportunities for Agriculture Program, under the Rural and Agricultural Incomes with a Sustainable Environment (RAISE Plus) Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC).

Implemented by:

Tetra Tech ARD 159 Bank St., Suite 300 Burlington, VT 05401

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared by the New Opportunities for Agriculture project team of Tetra Tech ARD based on a Final Report prepared by Short Term Technical Advisor, Dr. David Picha. The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

CONTENTS

BACKGROUND ……………………………………………………………….….…1

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT…………………………………………………..…1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………

FIELD ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE PURPOSES ………………………………

TASK FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIVITY .…16

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 1

BACKGROUND

USAID supports economic growth in Kosovo through programs that strengthen and improve competitiveness of Kosovo agribusinesses, improve the business environment, and encourage local economic development. Accordingly, USAID/Kosovo has awarded ARD the task order for the New Opportunities in Agriculture in Kosovo Program.

The goal of the Program is to increase economic growth in Kosovo through expanded, environmentally sustainable production and sales of value-added agricultural products by enabling producers and processors to compete regionally and globally. The Program has the following components:

1. Products and farmers linked with markets:

2. Agriculture products diversified and increased;

3. Food quality and safety improved;

4. Increased affordable and accessible credits;

5. Improved coordination with the agriculture sector.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The primary purpose of this assignment was to provide the Program with a road map for next steps in the development of the apple production and postharvest needs in Kosovo. The objectives were to:

1. Assess the apple production in Kosovo in terms of its scale, potential and priorities for development;

2. Rank the apple varieties it term of importance to compete in export markets, generate sales and jobs. Recommend which apple varieties the Program should invest into so as to get the most impact in terms of competitiveness, sales and jobs in the export EU markets and regional export markets and local market;

3. Assess the apple postharvest needs and provide recommendations.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Apples are the leading fruit crop produced in Kosovo and are well-adapted to the agro-climatic conditions throughout the country. Continued modernization of the apple sector is necessary to make it more internationally competitive. Multiple improvements are needed to overcome existing constraints in crop production practices, harvesting methods, postharvest care, packaging, and marketing. The existing constraints in production practices and postharvest care result in low crop yields, short postharvest life, low market quality, and limited duration of apple fruit availability.

Specific interventions were identified for implementation by the Program to improve apple yield and quality, postharvest life, and fruit market duration and value.

Considerable training and technical assistance is required for growers, packers, and storage operators in the form of demonstration plots, training events by expatriate and domestic apple specialists, detailed apple production and postharvest care publications, study tours, and other capacity building activities. Infrastructure improvements are also needed in packinghouse equipment and cold storage facilities. Adoption of the improved production and postharvest care practices and additional cold storage infrastructure will result in more consistent supplies of higher quality apples, which is required by the Kosovan apple growers and suppliers to be more competitive in domestic and international markets.

Immediate economic impact can be realized by better postharvest care and expanded cold storage infrastructure. Long term economic impact can be realized by additional cultivar introduction and improved production and postharvest care practices for apples. Significant domestic and international market opportunities exist for those growers who can provide consistent supplies of high quality apples at competitive market prices.

Market demand and availability will be the forces which sustain the development and expansion of the Kosovan apple sector. Significant opportunities exist in the domestic market by replacing apple imports with Kosovan-grown fruit. In addition, regional and further distance export market opportunities exist for Kosovan apples and agro-processed apple products.

Multiple interventions will be necessary to advance the apple sector and make it more competitive in domestic and export markets. Attention should be given to training and technical assistance to growers, farm managers, and extension personnel on improved apple production and postharvest care practices in order to obtain higher marketable yields and extend fruit storage life. This will include information dissemination using a combination of demonstration plots, written technical guides, training events by domestic and expatriate specialists, videos/TV programs, study tours, etc. Detailed and well-illustrated production practice and postharvest care guides specific to Kosovo are needed for all aspects of apple production and storage.

All apple production and postharvest care activities need improvement in order for growers to increase their yields of marketable fruit. Average apple yields in Kosovo are low compared to many other countries. Marketable fruit yield increases of 25-100 % are possible for Program-assisted stakeholders within the life of the Program by implementation of proper apple production and postharvest care practices.

The areas which require detailed training and technical assistance to the Kosovan producers include:

soil preparation, tree establishment, cultivar and rootstock selection, irrigation and fertilization practices, insect control, disease control, weed control, pruning, tree training systems, harvesting practices, cooling, cold storage, cleaning, sorting/grading, packing, and transport. Consistent supplies of high quality apples can only be realized by the utilization of proper temperature, humidity, and ethylene control during storage and improved postharvest care.

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Empowering the producers, packers, marketers, and support service personnel with detailed Kosovo-specific production, postharvest care, and market quality information will provide the apple sector the knowledge base required to develop a competitive and sustainable industry. Stakeholder implementation of the training and technical assistance information will allow the apple growers and marketers to add value to their fruit, extend the marketing period, and penetrate additional domestic and export markets.

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FIELD ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE PURPOSES

The STTA consultant was briefed by Program staff members regarding the past and current apple sector situation in Kosovo. Sector reports pertaining to the horticulture industry, agro-climatic conditions, crop production, storage, and marketing of fruits were also provided.

Site visits were conducted to the different growing regions to assess the production, harvesting, postharvest care, agro-processing, and marketing aspects of apples during a two week period. Apple stakeholder interviewed included growers, input dealers, processors, marketers, local government officials, and non-governmental organizations.

A summary PowerPoint presentation was made to the Program’s staff at the end of the assignment to highlight the important areas of the apple value chain that benefit from Project training, technical assistance, and grant activities.

TASK FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Task 1: Assess the apple production in Kosovo in terms of its situation, potential and priorities for development.

4.1.1 Situation and Constraints

The apple is the leading tree fruit produced in Kosovo. Harvest begins in August with the early-maturing cultivars and continues into November with the latest maturing cultivars. The main cultivar grown is Idared, which comprises about 85 % of the total production. It is mostly planted on standard or semi-dwarf rootstocks remaining from plantings prior to independence. About 300 hectares of high density orchards grafted onto dwarf rootstocks (M-9) have been planted in the last 5-10 years. These plantings have been associated with various international development projects, which have introduced a diversity of newer cultivars. These cultivars include Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Red Falstaff, Granny Smith, Jonagold, Jonica, Fuji, Mutsu, Empire, Red Devil, Saturn, Spartan, Sunrise, Braeburn, and Pink Lady. Significant harvest volumes of these new cultivars are expected within the next several years, since most of the plantings are recent.

Essentially the entire Kosovan apple production volume is marketed domestically within a 3-4 month period after harvest. The current export volume is insignificant. Apple fruit quality is highly variable due to improper production practices and inadequate postharvest care and cold storage infrastructure.

Lack of postharvest humidity and ethylene control also reduces postharvest fruit life.

The short-term development potential is limited by a small production area of high density orchards planted with the newer cultivars on dwarf rootstocks. The older Idared cultivar still comprises about 85% of the apple production in Kosovo. Marketable yields of Idared are low due to poor tree canopy management, high pest pressure, and inadequate cold storage infrastructure.

High amounts of postharvest losses, estimated in the range of 15-35 % of the harvest volume, constrain many apple growing operations in Kosovo. This can be attributed to inadequate postharvest care and a lack of on-farm cold storage, inadequate humidity and ethylene control, deficiencies in the packing process, and poor quality packaging materials.

Low farm-gate prices due to variable quality fruit and under-developed market opportunities further restrict investment in the sector, especially for the limited resource growers who comprise the majority of the Kosovan apple industry.

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The apple industry is mostly based on small-scale (<0.5 hectare) inefficient production units. Even the relatively “large-scale” growing operations of more than several hectares would be considered small-scale on an international basis. The lack of large, modern, and efficient growing operations is a constraint to the development of the apple sector in Kosovo. The absence of GlobalGAP-certified production operations also restricts export market opportunities targeted to the high-value retail supermarket trade in many European countries.

The development of the apple sector is further compounded by the lack of research and extension efforts in the public sector which address the constraints of the apple industry. Horticulture research and extension personnel with knowledge of the latest technologies coupled with significant apple experience are generally not available. Furthermore, growers are typically not aware of, nor have access to, improved cultivars of apples that are being grown commercially in other countries with similar agro-climatic conditions to Kosovo. These cultivars have a strong demand in the global marketplace.

4.1.2 Potential

Kosovo has favorable agro-climatic conditions for the commercial production of apples. Flat valley areas and gently sloped hillsides with good soils and access to high quality irrigation water exist throughout the country. An adequate workforce is generally available to perform the numerous production practices, harvesting, and postharvest handling and packing requirements of the labor-intensive apple sector. An established agro-processing industry also exists. These are all highly desirable conditions which favor the long-term development of the apple sector.

The apple sector represents one of the highest potential sources of economic growth in Kosovan agriculture. High density apple orchard production typically allows growers to obtain substantially higher rates of return compared to wheat, corn, and pasture crops. The characteristic high value per unit area of apple production is particularly important to those areas where available land for cultivation is limited.

The demand for apples is strong in both the domestic and international markets. Apples are one of the most widely consumed fruits worldwide. This bodes well for the future of the Kosovan apple sector.

Further development of apple production and agro-processing will result in increased rural income, enhanced employment, and a positive economic impact among multiple segments of the population.

Market demand will be the force which sustains the development and expansion of the Kosovan apple sector. Significant growth opportunities exist in the domestic market by the replacement of imported apples with domestically-grown fruit. Additional long-term opportunities exist for apple producers and agro-processors in regional and further distant export markets. Significant domestic and export market opportunities exist for those Kosovan apple producers that can provide consistent supplies of high quality product at competitive market prices. Realization of these market growth opportunities will require significant improvements in apple production practices, better postharvest care, and additional cold storage infrastructure to preserve fruit quality after harvest and extend market life.

Private sector participation in annual trade fairs, such as Fruit Logistica in Berlin, are excellent opportunities to develop new market linkages and opportunities and establish additional buyer contacts.

4.1.3 Program Intervention Priorities for Developing the Apple Sector

Numerous constraints or weak links exist in the apple sector farm-to-fork apple value chain in Kosovo. These constraints will need to be overcome in order to strengthen the apple sector and make it more competitive for domestic and export markets. Program training and technical assistance activities and interventions focused on reducing existing constraints in the following areas are needed:

domestic nursery source availability of certified, disease-free planting stock of newer cultivars with good market demand, improved tree irrigation and fertilization practices, proper tree training and

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 6 pruning, better pest management (i.e. weeds, insects, diseases), appropriate harvesting practices at the proper fruit maturity stage, improved cleaning, sorting, grading, and packing practices, use of better packaging materials, proper cooling and cold storage, humidity and ethylene control, and improved market intelligence and producer-buyer networking. Support with grants for proper on-farm cold storage infrastructure is needed to extend the market life and maintain the postharvest quality of apple fruit over an extended period of time. It will be necessary to address each of the constraints in the apple value chain in an integrated manner in order for the Kosovan apple industry to be able to provide consistent supplies of high quality fruit to multiple markets. Multiple on-farm demonstration plots and postharvest handling and storage technology demonstrations are needed to overcome the knowledge gaps existing all along the apple value chain.

Marketing is also a serious constraint facing the apple sector. Kosovan growers need to establish stronger links with domestic and international buyers in order to obtain more profitable returns.

Currently, the majority of the apple crop is marketed for relatively low prices in local bazaars, or procured by traders who obtain the products from the growers at less than premium prices.

The most important constraints facing the Kosovan apple sector are discussed below, including recommendations for overcoming these constraints.

Apple Cultivar Availability

A large percentage of the Kosovan apple crop is based on the old Idared cultivar. There is a lack of production area planted to modern varieties with good international market potential and improved pest resistance. For example, there is no production of the globally popular ‘Honeycrisp’ cultivar, earlier maturing redder strains of Fuji’, apple scab-resistant ‘Liberty’, ‘Ginger Gold’, and ‘Cameo’.

There is a lack of domestic nursery production of certified disease-free tree stock of the newer cultivars. The most important item influencing the yield potential of an apple tree is the vigor and health of the planting stock. If the planting material is contaminated with disease and/or variable in genetic purity, the yield potential of the crop will be seriously compromised. In an increasingly competitive global market, maximizing the yield and quality of the apple crop is of paramount importance.

Improved Production Practices

The crop production practices followed by most apple growers in Kosovo are not consistent with producing optimal yields of high quality fruit. The cultural practices of soil preparation, plant establishment, irrigation method, fertilization, tree training and pruning, and pest management all need to be significantly improved by the vast majority of growers. Rehabilitation of existing apple orchards by renovative pruning and the application of improved production practices will increase fruit yields, which on average are low, compared to the world’s leading apple producing countries.

Soil Preparation and Plant Establishment

Apples prefer well-drained soils of medium texture (silt-loam), high in organic matter, with a pH between 6 and 7. It is important the soil be properly prepared before planting, as making alterations in the soil after tree establishment is difficult. In addition, the liberal incorporation of organic matter in the soil prior to planting will improve the nutrient content and water holding capacity of the soil. Prior to apple tree planting, growers should analyze their soil for pH, salinity, % organic matter, and nutrient content. It is important to know the soil fertility level, percent organic matter, and soil pH in order to apply the proper amount and balance of macro and micro-nutrients to the orchard. Easy-to-use, rapid, and accurate soil monitoring devices are available for growers and training on their use should be incorporated into on-farm demonstration plots. Technical information should also be disseminated to growers on the proper planting sites, soil preparation, row orientation, and optimal

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 7 planting density. This information should be provided in demonstration plot training sessions and published technical guides.

Sustainable On-Farm Water Delivery Methods

Water and nutrient stress are common constraints to obtaining optimal yields and fruit sizing in apples. Use of efficient drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation methods which apply liquid fertilizer (fertigation) is very limited in Kosovo. This improved water and fertilization delivery method is standard in the apple industry worldwide and it allows for optimal crop water and nutrient use efficiency. In order to maximize yield and quality of high-density apple plantings, in addition to conserving valuable water and fertilizer resources, it is highly recommended the apple sector adapt modern fertigation practices. Demonstration plots should be established comparing the results between fertigation treatments.

Tree Training System and Pruning Practices

Proper tree training and pruning of dwarf apple trees is critical to formation of the desired tree shape, yield potential, and fruit quality. Apple trees must be trained and pruned correctly to establish a limb framework which allows for maximum light penetration through the tree canopy. This will increase fruit yield and allow more sunlight into the tree for maximizing fruit color. Insect and disease control and crop protectant applications are also more difficult on thick canopied trees. The majority of apple growers in Kosovo do not use proper tree training and pruning practices. The result is often a poorly shaped tree with an undesirably thick canopy, poor limb structure, excess fruit shading, and reduced fruit yield. Proper pruning practices will encourage earlier production and the development of a strong structural framework capable of supporting heavy apple crops in future years. Technical assistance, demonstration plots, and training programs should be initiated for apple growers on proper tree training systems (i.e. central leader, vertical axe, tall spindle, super spindle) and pruning practices.

Demonstration plots in existing plantings should also be established to show how to renovate older trees that have not received the proper pruning. The demonstration plots will be effective in showing the difference in apple crop productivity between current and improved training and pruning practices.

The yield potential of new training systems using dwarfing rootstocks is impressive, with better growers obtaining in excess of 50 metric tons per hectare. High density orchard training systems are more profitable than traditional low-density orchards on standard or semi-dwarfing rootstocks.

However, because the establishment costs for intensive orchards are high, trees must be trained and pruned properly to induce and maintain high yields.

Pest Management

Numerous insect, disease, and weed pests negatively impact apples in Kosovo. Common pests include fire blight, apple scab, powdery mildew, Phytophthora root rot, cedar apple rust, codling moth, apple maggot, mites, aphids, and thrips. It is imperative for growers to adopt an integrated pest management strategy which uses a multi-faceted approach to pest control. This should include the planting of pest-resistant cultivars, proper soil preparation, field sanitation, appropriate plant density, proper

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 8 fertilization and irrigation to keep plant growth vigorous, predator insect establishment, pheromone trap monitoring, and the use of crop protectants. Most growers in Kosovo do not know the best integrated pest management management practices to follow or the best crop protectants to use to combat specific insect, disease, and weed pests. There is a lack of information dissemination to the farmers.

The result is a proliferation of numerous pests which negatively impacts the health, vigor, and yield of the apple crop.

Apple scab is prevalent throughout apple orchards in Kosovo.

Harvesting Practices

Improper harvesting practices can result in significant losses in apple fruit market quality. Apples are very delicate and extreme care must be taken to avoid bruising or mechanical damage to the fruit at harvest. Rough harvesting practices are common and they impart significant damage to the fruit, reducing the postharvest life and lowering market quality. Also, the field containers used for harvesting apples are often not appropriate for protection of the fruit against mechanical injury and bruising. The rough unfinished surface of many field containers can cause significant apple skinning, followed by postharvest decay. The proper field container for harvest is a strong, well-ventilated plastic crate or a canvas picking bag. These types of containers provide the best protection to the harvested fruit.

Training and technical assistance to the field workers in proper harvesting practices and harvest containers is needed to improve apple market quality.

Harvest Maturity

Proper harvest maturity is important to obtain the optimal fruit market life and eating quality. A constraint negatively impacting the quality of Kosovan apples is the high amount of variability in fruit maturity during harvest.

There is a wide range in fruit maturity, from over-ripe to immature. Such wide variation in apple maturity is difficult to grade and classify into a uniform packed product. This variability can be avoided by educating the pickers on the proper harvest maturity stage for apples, coupled with multiple harvests per

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 9 tree. Simple field instruments also exist that are capable of objectively measuring various fruit quality and maturity parameters. Training should be offered to field workers on proper harvesting procedures and maturity indices for apples, including the measurement of soluble solids, firmness, and starch content.

Proper Postharvest Care

High amounts of fruit loss occur after apple harvest due to improper postharvest care and inadequate on-farm cold storage infrastructure. Considering the entire apple value chain, constraints in the postharvest area may be the weakest links and in need of immediate attention in order to improve the consistency and quality of Kosovan apples. This includes cooling after harvest, cold storage, cleaning, grading/grading, waxing, packing, humidity control, ethylene control, and maintenance of the cold chain during transport and distribution of the apples to market. It is common for growers to suffer between 15-35 % postharvest loss for apples due to inadequate cooling and cold storage and improper postharvest care. Fruit deterioration and postharvest decay is high due to inadequate temperature, humidity, and ethylene control, inadequate disease management, improper containers for storage and transport, and non-refrigerated transport. Unfortunately, not enough effort is being made within the Kosovan apple sector to improve the grading, packaging, and postharvest care of the harvested fruit.

This negatively impacts fruit market quality and results in significant postharvest losses, negatively impacting both smallholder and larger-scale farmers. Significant improvements in postharvest cooling and maintenance of the cold chain for apples are needed in Kosovo to extend the market life and improve the consistency of supply and fruit market quality.

Potentially higher farm-gate prices can be obtained if marketing gluts can be avoided by the use of proper cold storage. In the absence of a cold chain, most apples grown in Kosovo have to be sold immediately to traders or in the local markets which cannot absorb the product volume and return low farm-gate prices. Adequate postharvest care and cold storage infrastructure will allow growers to obtain higher market prices and extend the duration of market availability for their apples.

Grade Standards

Lack of apple fruit uniformity within a container is a serious constraint to marketing, particularly for export. It is very important to have as much uniformity in fruit size, shape, and color within the market container as possible. Clean, well-packed, uniform-sized, and attractive apple fruit are essential for the high-value domestic and export markets.

Many countries have national grade standards for individual fruit and vegetable crops that growers must adhere to in marketing their products. Such grade standards do not exist in Kosovo, and therefore a wide variation in apple and other fruit quality is common in the domestic market. This does not facilitate orderly marketing of the products and buyers are reluctant to pay premium prices because of this lack of product consistency. It is not uncommon to have poorer quality apples put in the bottom layers of a wooden crate, with the top layers reserved for the better appearing fruit.

Bruised and partially decayed fruit are often mixed in the same container as good fruit. Currently, only an informal grading system is used in classifying apples for domestic marketing.

Industry-developed grade standards for apples (and other horticultural crops) would improve the orderly marketing of apples in Kosovo. The grade standards should be based on internationally accepted norms, such as Codex Alimentarus, E.U. standards, or U.S.D.A. standards. The result will be stronger confidence in the domestic marketing system, higher prices for better quality fruit, and discipline imposed within the industry in marketing fresh apples. Currently, there is no uniformity of product quality in the wholesale and retail markets. The domestic produce trade currently uses a subjective and vague classification system for marketing fresh produce. The lack of clearly defined and objective grade standards for apples is not conducive to an orderly marketing system.

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Cooling and Cold Storage Infrastructure

Apples have a high respiration rate and need to be cooled as soon as possible after harvest to their ideal storage temperature of 0° C in order to maximize their market life. However, there is a lack of cooling and cold storage infrastructure for apples in Kosovo and the rate of fruit deterioration is rapid at high ambient temperatures. Apples are very perishable and quickly lose market quality and price without adequate postharvest cooling and cold storage. Strengthening the postharvest infrastructure and cold storage capacity is critically needed in order to improve the texture, flavor, market quality, and marketing duration of Kosovan apples. Modern cooling and cold storage infrastructure on the farm or at nearby collection centers is essential to improve the competitiveness of Kosovan apples.

The existing cold storage facilities for storing apples in Kosovo are limited and many facilities are old and incapable of precise temperature and relative humidity control. None offer control of ethylene, which is a very undesirable ripening and senescence agent. This results in accelerated quality deterioration of the stored apples. Consistent and high quality apples will only be obtainable by the use of proper cold storage infrastructure.

The maximum storage life of apples is obtained by removal of the field heat as soon as possible after harvest. Ideally, the pulp temperature of the harvested fruit should be lowered to its optimal storage temperature of 0° C within 24 hours after harvest. Apples will lose their firmness and market quality after several months of storage if the postharvest temperature management is not adequate.

Inadequate internal air ventilation inside the storage rooms can lead to a build-up of ethylene.

Ethylene causes accelerated ripening and deterioration of apples and significantly reduces the storage life. Even at very low concentrations (parts per million range), ethylene will cause breakdown of the fruit tissue. Apples also lose their firmness and become soft when exposed to ethylene. The build-up of ethylene in an enclosed storage room is very detrimental to the postharvest quality of stored apples.

The degree of fruit damage depends upon the cultivar, concentration of ethylene, length of exposure time, and temperature. Fortunately, there are practical methods and equipment available to reduce the concentration and negative impacts of ethylene exposure during storage.

An example of a specific Program intervention pertaining to improved postharvest care and market quality of apples is the introduction and use of 1-MCP (Smart Fresh). Use of this ethylene inhibitor immediately after harvest will allow apple growers and marketers to add value to the fruit, extend the marketing period for at least several months, and penetrate additional domestic and export markets.

Apple growers in Kosovo can have a 6-8 month potential market availability period with the use of improved postharvest technologies. Demonstrations should be conducted at several cold storage facilities to show the potential benefits of adopting these improved postharvest care practices.

Improved Packaging

Wooden crates are the common types of packaging material used in the domestic marketing of apples.

The rough inner surface of the wooden crate can result in significant physical injury to the delicate skin of the fruit if it comes in direct contact with the rough wood surface. Newspaper is commonly used to protect the fruit inside the wooden crate, but this is not appropriate for export market destinations. Furthermore, the crates are often over-filled and considerable abrasion and compression bruising of the fruit occurs inside the crate. Also, food safety regulations and packaging restrictions against the use of wood containers in many export markets will preclude the use of this type of packaging in many international market destinations.

Strong, well-ventilated, attractive corrugated cartons are the norm in packaging apples for export.

Kosovan apple growers and exporters will have to adopt this type of packaging to be successful in the export market. Improved fruit appearance, more uniform grading, and more attractive packaging materials will also help increase domestic apple sales. Due to the strong competition and the large

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 11 amount of apple supply options available, it is imperative that Kosovan exporters pack their apples in high quality, attractive corrugated cartons.

4.2 Task 2: Rank the apple varieties it term of importance to compete in export markets, generate sales and jobs. Recommend which apple varieties should the Program invest into and get the most impact in terms of competitiveness, sales and jobs in the export EU markets and regional export markets and local market.

The initial focus of the Program’s market development activities should be on import substitution.

However, long-term marketing efforts should also include export market development. The cultivar Idared commands the lowest price in the domestic market due to the large availability of supply.

Farm-gate prices to traders for high quality Idared average around €0.30 per kg. Golden Delicious price averages around €0.40 and Granny Smith €0.50 per kg. The other recently introduced cultivars also command farm-gate prices in the €0.50 per kg range. Cultivar diversity is important in marketing apples and the Program should prioritize the further development of all of the newer cultivars, including the recommended new introductions. There is no one specific cultivar that should be prioritized, as each of the newer cultivars has considerable unmet market demand.

The farm-gate price for apples of premium quality is significantly higher than average to poor quality fruit. Therefore, utilization of improved production practices and strict attention to detail in all aspects of apple production will be rewarded with higher market prices. For example, the farm-gate price of variable to low-quality apples for processing is typically in the range of €0.10 per kg. High quality fruit sold in the domestic fresh market typical have farm-gate prices ranging from €0.30 per kg (Idared) to €0.50 per kg (newer cultivars).

High quality fresh market apples of the newer cultivars have an average farm-gate price of €0.50 per kg in the fall and up to €0.70-0.80 per kg in the spring. Therefore, the Program emphasis should be placed on improving the postharvest care and storage infrastructure to allow growers to have the opportunity to obtain higher market prices.

Export markets place premium prices on newer cultivars such as “Honeycrisp’, ‘Pink Lady’, and ‘Cameo’. However, considerable demand and market opportunities are present for a wide diversity of the newer cultivars recently introduced into Kosovo

4.3 Task 3: Assess the apple postharvest needs and provide recommendations.

Lack of proper apple postharvest care and insufficient cold storage infrastructure constrain the development of the Kosovan apple sector. Adoption of improved postharvest care practices and additional on-farm cold storage will allow growers to provide the market with increased volumes of higher quality apples for a longer duration. This will be necessary for the Kosovan apple industry to replace imports and establish new export markets.

Recommendations are provided for improved postharvest care of apples in Kosovo. This includes cooling after harvest, cold storage, cleaning, sorting/grading, waxing, packing, humidity control, ethylene inhibition, and maintenance of the cold chain during transport and distribution of the apples to market.

Cooling

Apples are perishable and require cooling as soon as possible after harvest, followed by maintenance of the cold chain during storage and distribution to market. Removal of the field heat from the fruit by forced-air cooling or room cooling with adequate internal air circulation is recommended. In order for

STTA – David Picha, September 2011 Page 12 a forced-air or room cooling system to function properly, adequate refrigeration capacity is needed along with sufficient air movement within the cold room. In addition, the field containers or bins of apples must be adequately ventilated and appropriately stacked inside the cold room.

Apple fruit should be cooled to a pulp temperature of 0° C as soon as possible after harvest. In order to obtain the maximum storage life potential from apple fruit, the cooling process should be completed within 24 hours after harvest. Room cooling, in which a low volume of air circulates within the room, is the predominant method used for cooling apples in Kosovo. When the internal air flow movement is low, the rate of cooling will be slow. Also, inadequate ventilation of the field containers or bulk bins will further restrict the movement of cool air around the fruit. Therefore, room cooling is a slow and inefficient cooling method unless supplemental fan capacity is added to accelerate the cooling process.

It is very important to rapidly cool apples that mature in the early part of the harvest season (summer types) since they will soften more rapidly than those that mature in the later part of the harvest season.

Within a cultivar, fruit tend to soften more rapidly if the fruit are harvested at more advanced stages of maturity. The negative effects of slow cooling are accentuated as storage length increases. Therefore, inadequate cooling at harvest may not be apparent until late in the storage period when the fruit may not meet minimum firmness standards for marketing. In general, a 1-day delay before cooling of apple fruit results in a 7 to 10 day loss of storage life potential.

Storage

Apples should be stored at 0° C, with a high relative humidity (90-95%). Cold temperature storage is the best method available for maintaining apple fruit quality, maximizing fruit market life, and minimizing postharvest deterioration and decay. The length of apple fruit storage life depends many factors, including cultivar, harvest maturity stage, storage temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric gas composition. Some cultivars, like Gala, have a short storage potential due to a high metabolic rate.

Compounds that inhibit ethylene production or action are particularly beneficial in extending apple fruit storage life. Two of the most beneficial compounds are 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, Smart Fresh) and diphenylamine (DPA).

The benefits of postharvest applications of 1-MCP to apples are widely known. It is an ethylene antagonist that slows down ripening and senescence-related processes. With many cultivars, 1-MCP may work as well as controlled atmosphere (CA) in conserving fruit firmness, reducing fruit sugar and acidity losses, and extending apple fruit storage life. Smart Fresh tablets are commercially available which release volatile 1-MCP in the desired concentration Treatment usually consists of exposing the apples for 24 hours to a 1 ppm 1-MCP concentration at 0° C. The incidence of internal browning and superficial scald in some cultivars may be significantly reduced by this treatment.

However, not all the apple fruit responses to 1-MCP are positive. Susceptibility of CA-stored apples to CO2 injury is accentuated.

DPA is an antioxidant commonly used in the apple industry to inhibit superficial scald injury. A postharvest DPA treatment can also reduce the incidence of internal browning, which develops in some cultivars during long-term storage. The postharvest treatment procedure typically involves immersing the apple fruit in a 2,000 ppm solution of DPA in water at ambient temperature.

Well controlled refrigerated storage typically allows fruit of most apple cultivars to be stored for up to 3 months. Application of Smart Fresh will typically add another several months to the storage life of the apples. After this time, the fruit generally has lost sufficient moisture to become noticeably mealy and soft. In order to maintain high quality fruit for 8-10 months of storage for most cultivars, CA storage will be necessary.

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Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage

Maximum postharvest life of apples is obtained by using CA storage. This consists of holding the fruit at 0° C inside air-tight insulated rooms that are sealed after the apples are placed inside. The oxygen content in the storage room is reduced from 21% to between 1 and 3 %, depending on cultivar. The carbon dioxide level is increased from 0.03% to 2 to 5%, and a 95% relative humidity is maintained.

CA storage dramatically reduces the ripening process, thus allowing many apple cultivars to be stored with excellent quality for up to 12 months. Since CA storage is more costly than normal refrigerated storage, only the highest quality apples should be put into this type of storage. However, premium prices are usually obtained for high quality CA-stored fruit that are marketed in the spring and summer months.

Although CA storage technology was the most significant innovation for extending the market life of apples since mechanical refrigeration, it is not without problems. Fruit from some cultivars is more susceptible to internal browning after several months of CA storage compared to fruit stored in air.

Cold Chain Maintenance during Transport

It is very important to maintain the cold chain during transportation and distribution of apples to market. Proper cold chain maintenance will preserve the quality of the apples, improve arrival consistency, and help to maintain buyer satisfaction.

Refrigerated transportation is often overlooked and not applied in Kosovo during the distribution of apples to market. However, it is an important component in the overall postharvest cold chain. An interruption in the cold chain during transport will negatively impact the final quality of the fruit, although the effect may not be visible until several days later. Refrigerated transport is especially important when the transport time to the final market destination is greater than 1 day and/or the ambient temperature is ≥ 10° C above the optimal apple storage temperature of 0° C.

Relative Humidity

The ideal storage relative humidity (RH) for apples is between 90-95%. This will minimize postharvest weight loss and peel shriveling. The major causes of dehydration are small coil surface areas on the refrigeration unit and/or frequent defrosting. When cold storage rooms are designed, the largest coil size feasible for the room should be installed. The number of defrost cycles should be reduced to an absolute minimum to optimize RH in the storage room. The storage room should have a supplemental humidifier installed which is connected to a humidistat to maintain the atmospheric RH between 90-95%. The air distribution system should be designed to prevent condensation of water droplets on fruit to prevent decay. The use of plastic rather than wooden containers or polyethylene bin liners inside wooden bins will help minimize apple fruit shrivel during storage.

Preparation for Market

Various steps are necessary to prepare apple fruit for market following storage. These involve cleaning, grading/sorting, waxing (optional), and packing. These operations should be carried out in a properly designed packinghouse.

Cleaning

Apple fruit should be cleaned by washing with water in a dump tank or underneath nozzles of wash water followed by roller brushing. The water used for cleaning should be sanitized with 150 ppm free chlorine and maintained at a pH of 6.7. The surface of the fruit should be dried before putting them in the final market container. This can be done by air drying using supplemental fans to speed up the drying process, or by passing the fruit over adsorbent sponges.

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Sorting/Grading

Apple sorting and grading involves making a final selection of the fruit according to the standards required of the market. The apples should be sorted according to size, shape, firmness, external color, insect damage, and decay. Visibly damaged and decayed fruit should be discarded. There are certain minimal requirements for apple fruit intended for any market. The fruit should be clean, firm, of uniform shape, and free of physical injury and decay. The fruit should also be carefully sorted for uniformity of size and shape. Sizing is usually carried out by weight or fruit diameter.

Larger-scale operations may choose to use some form of mechanical grading and sorting. Various grading and sizing equipment is available, ranging from sieve and roller sizers to sophisticated electronic color sorters/sizers.

Well graded, clean, uniform-sized apple fruit on tray packed carton liner.

Waxing

Waxes help to extend the market life of apple fruit by reducing internal water loss and preserving the turgidity and freshness of the skin. Aqueous wax emulsions, consisting of either shellac or carnauba wax are the most effective in improving the storage life of apples. Application of waxes are optional and will depend on the market requirements and buyer preference. Apple fruit intended for export will usually benefit from an application of a surface wax during packing. However, care must be taken to avoid over application of the wax, as too thick a coat may result in fruit fermentation and off-flavor development. Waxes are commonly applied to apple fruit by roller brushes using a wax applicator.

Complete coverage of the entire fruit surface is essential.

Packing

After cleaning and/or waxing of the fruit, it is dried and then put into its final container for marketing.

Depending on the scale of the operation, this can be done manually or mechanically.

The packaging material used for apples depends on the intended market destination. There is no one single standard apple package used in domestic or international marketing of apples. A two-layer 40 x60 cm carton is commonly used in the European markets. It has the advantage of minimizing fruit handling as the cartons are placed directly onto display racks in retail markets. In many North American markets, apples are packed into 40 lb (18.2 kg) cartons and sold by count (fruit per carton).

Apples are usually packed on soft fiberboard trays for protection against bruising injury.

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Independent of carton size, it should be strong, well-ventilated, attractive, and stackable on a pallet. The packaging material should cushion the fruit and minimize surface abrasions during transport. For export, the carton should be properly labeled to include the following: name of product, cultivar, net weight, grade, size, place of origin, and name and address of the consignee.

Typical corrugated 18.2-kg carton used for marketing apples in North America.

Principal Postharvest Diseases

Apple fruit are susceptible to a number of postharvest diseases. These diseases originate from either pre-harvest latent fungal infections on the fruit, or from infection of wounds that occur at harvest and during postharvest handling. The principal postharvest fungal diseases are blue mold, gray mold, bull’s eye rot, and Mucor rot.

Control of postharvest diseases should involve all phases of apple production, starting in the orchard and completing when the fruit is consumed. Use of pre-harvest fungicides is needed to reduce the amount of decay, particularly on long-term stored fruits that are not been treated with postharvest fungicides prior to storage. The benefits from pre-harvest fungicide applications are to reduce or control latent infections, to reduce spore load on the surfaces of the fruit, and to protect wounds that occur at harvest and during the handling process from infection by decay-causing pathogens. Broad spectrum fungicides are effective in reducing spore inoculum on the apple fruit surface, but their residual activity to protect wounds that occur at harvest from infection by decay-causing pathogens is limited compared with the newer generation strobilurin-type and phenylpyrrole-type fungicides.

Thorough fruit coverage by the use of a high-volume ground sprayer is essential to the success of pre-harvest applications of fungicides for decay control.

The storage bins should be cleaned and disinfested (steam-cleaned) before they are re-used for a new crop. Plastic bins generally carry less inoculum than wooden bins. Plastic bins also have the advantage of reducing bruising and abrasion where apples contact the sides of bins. Careful fruit handling, rapid cooling after harvest and storage at recommended temperatures also help limit postharvest decays.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is the most commonly used postharvest fungicide for apple disease control. It can be applied as either a drench treatments or in-line spray. A postharvest drench with TBZ has been a common practice to treat apples before they are put into long-term storage.