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