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Why can oranges and grapefruit remain on the tree after reaching good quality?
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Fruit farming
Gros Michel bananas.
Oranges and grapefruit can remain on the tree for several months after reaching good quality because this practice serves as a form of "storage" that effectively reduces costs associated with handling and marketing the fruit.1
By leaving the fruit on the tree, growers can delay harvesting until it is more convenient or economically advantageous, rather than picking the fruit immediately upon maturity. This method is a practical alternative to traditional postharvest storage techniques, which often require refrigeration or controlled atmosphere environments to maintain the quality of perishable commodities.12