Overview
ISO 8682:1987 - "Apples - Storage in controlled atmospheres" provides internationally agreed guidance on harvesting, handling and long‑term storage of apples in controlled-atmosphere (CA) cold stores. The standard covers optimal storage conditions (temperature, relative humidity, air circulation), chemical composition of the storage atmosphere (O2/CO2), monitoring and control procedures, packaging and stacking recommendations, pre‑cooling and handling, and methods to check storage life. Annex A lists optimal conditions for principal apple varieties; Annex B documents common storage defects and physiological disorders.
Keywords: ISO 8682, apples storage, controlled atmosphere, CA storage, postharvest, cold storage, storage life.
Key topics and technical requirements
Applications - who uses ISO 8682
- Cold‑store and CA storage managers and designers
- Fruit packers, growers and exporters planning long‑term apple storage
- Quality assurance teams, postharvest technologists and researchers
- Consultants setting CA protocols for specific apple cultivars
Practical benefits: extends shelf life, slows metabolism and disease development, reduces physiological disorders when CA parameters and handling follow the standard.
Related standards
- ISO 2169 - physical conditions of refrigeration
- ISO 3659 - ripening after refrigerated storage
- ISO 6949 - principles and techniques of controlled atmosphere storage
For implementation, consult Annex A for variety‑specific setpoints and Annex B for diagnosis and prevention of storage disorders.