STORAGE AND HANDLING
Storage and Handling of Apple Slices
Richland Hills Farms stores all whole apples between 32-40 degrees fahrenheit. Most varieties of apples store best at cooler temperatures after they are harvested. After slicing, all apples are stored in a cooler at a temperature of 32-38 degrees fahrenheit and are transported to distributors on refrigerated trucks. Upon arrival into a distributor’s warehouse the temperature of the delivery is checked to confirm it is between 32-38 degrees fahrenheit and then the pallets are unloaded and quickly transferred into the distributor cooler. It is company policy to train delivery drivers to perform a temperature check upon arrival to each distribution warehouse and the delivered temperature is documented on the bill of lading.
We suggest that our customers store all apple slices as cold as possible to maintain slice integrity. Your staff should be trained in the proper handling of slices and the cases should be moved quickly into a cooler upon arrival to your facility. Train your staff to take the time to do the necessary temperature checks when checking in all cases of food coming in on distributors trucks. It is important to note that Cold “Freezing” as well as Warm temperature will affect the quality of the apple slices. Moving cases of delivered Richland Hills Apple slices into your produce cooler upon arrival is important for food safety and will maintain the quality of all your produce.
When using Richland Hills Farms sliced apples in your operation it is again important to train your staff that they should take out enough product to get through the service for the specific meal and move the sliced apples from cooler to cold deck quickly. Train staff that bulk slices are best to take out enough to cover the meal service and put the remaining slices back into your produce cooler. If apple slices are allowed to rise to temperatures over 40 degrees for extended periods this causes the apple slices to soften and speeds up bacteria growth. If Freezing occurs, slices are allowed to dip below 32 degrees fahrenheit will also have a negative effect on the quality of the apple slices. Freezing of apple slices destroys their cell structure and produces mushy slices that will look more like a bag of applesauce than sliced apples. Keep in mind that in extremely cold weather your slices could freeze if left on the distributor delivery truck with doors open for deliveries or on your facilities dock while waiting to be loaded for transport to a school or secondary food location. Storing Richland Hills Apple slices between 32-38 degrees maintains a crisp” just sliced” quality and reduces the growth of bacteria. Training staff will help them to remember not to leave cases or bags of bulk slices out over a lunch period or out for prolonged periods of time while waiting to be loaded for food distribution to other facilities. Maintaining slices by reducing temperature fluctuations will give you the quality slices we all can be proud to serve in our food service operations.