POST-RIPENING TREATMENT OF CITRUS FRUIT

PURPOSE:To provide high-quality citrus fruits by post-ripening treatment which is characterized in that the temperature difference between the hot humid atmosphere for post-ripening and the citrus fruit is maintained to a level below the preset upper limit, the temperature of the atmosphere is raised, and the gas for the acceleration of the post-treatment is supplied to the fruits. CONSTITUTION:The temperature of the citrus fruit is raised to the target value in a hot and humid atmosphere while keeping the temperatue difference between the citrus fruit and the atmosphere in the treating chamber to a level below a preset upper limit. When the temperature of the fruit has reached the preset temperature for starting the supply of gas, a post-ripening gas is introduced into the chamber until the concentration of the gas reaches a required level, and then the gas is fed to the chamber slowly until the post-treatment has finished. The fruit is post-ripened at the target temperature for the required time interval by this process. After the post-treatment, the air in the chamber is forcibly exhausted with a ventilation fan to lower the temperature in the chamber to the temperature for starting the supply of the gas.