Bulletin 229, Diseases of Citrus in Florida


 Delays are also responsible for considerable decay. The form
of delay known as "operating delay" is chargeable largely to the
carrier. This form of delay may be occasioned by anything
which hinders prompt delivery of the fruit to the market, such
as breakdowns, collisions or other accidents, strikes, washouts,
etc. Another form of delay is the "diversion", for which the
shipper is responsible. Sometimes the fruit is held by the ship-
per at the diversion point too long, or perhaps the shipper makes
a number of diversions while hunting the best market. From
the standpoint of their bearing upon fruit decay, all forms of
delay should be avoided as much as possible.
 The prevention of the tremendous losses due to blue and green
mold decays and stem-end rot, therefore, is largely in the hands
of those who take our fruit from the trees and deliver it, packed,
into the cars. The decay of fruit during transit and after it
reaches the market, is directly proportional to the care exercised
in handling it prior to that time. It has been estimated that
approximately 70 percent of the rind injuries caused by rough
or improper handling result in decay before the marketed fruit
is consumed.
 Aside from the quality of the fruit and the supply in relation
to the demand, the largest factor which determines the price
paid by the wholesaler or jobber is the amount of decay in the
fruit upon its arrival on the market. Fruit showing considerable
decay often must be repacked before being sold to the retailer
and, in this case, its market price is severely discounted. Fruit
with a considerable percentage of decay arriving on a weak mar-
ket usually sells for less than the amount of the picking, pack-
ing, and transportation charges. The amount of money annually
lost to Florida citrus growers from decay of fruit, much of which
could have been prevented by proper care, is enormous. The pre-
vention of this great annual toll exacted of the Florida citrus
industry can be accomplished only by constant vigilance in the
handling of the fruit from the time it leaves the tree until it
reaches the consumer.