How Old Is That Apple? Why Australian Apples Can Stay Crisp for Months

Key points

• Apples can be stored for months before reaching shops, and growers use controlled-atmosphere rooms to slow ripening. In these rooms, operators lower oxygen and manage carbon dioxide while keeping temperatures cool.
• The fruit stays alive but changes more slowly. Storage conditions, variety and harvest timing all affect texture and eating quality.
• Shoppers cannot tell harvest dates from an apple's appearance, and an origin label does not reveal when it was picked.