Take Care Picking Your Navels

Oleocellosis is rind damage usually in the form of spots or dark areas resulting from rough handling of fruit when picked in poor weather conditions (too cold or too wet).

To minimise oleocellosis, harvest in the warmest part of the day and pick from the northern side of the tree first.  As a rough guide, ambient air temperatures should be above 12°C, however a wet bulb temperature and rind oil release pressure test should be conducted to provide a more reliable guide. It is best not to harvest if fruit are wet.

Citrus Australia advises that a new 2016 Citrus Harvest Handbook can be obtained from your packer to help train pickers – especially new ones.  For further information visit the Citrus Australia website http://www.citrusaustralia.com.au