Fruit Bites July 6-8 Raynox Plus and Sunburn

BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us again is Valent’s Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we are talking about our recent heat wave and how to prevent apple sunburn!

AW: Not only am I burning up in this heat, but so are the apples. They can absorb heat but aren’t able to dissipate like leaves can. Fruit surface temperatures of the apple can reach 20 to 30 degrees higher than the air temperature. At 85 degrees apples can start to brown. At 95 degrees, in as little as 10 minutes, apples can suffer cell death/necrosis.

BL: what can growers do to prevent sunburn?

AW: Options include evaporative cooling, netting or use a protective spray such as kaolin, particle films or waxy coatings. Valent USA has several options to fit growers needs and reduce apple sunburn: Raynox Plus, Raynox Aerial or Raynox Organic.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.