How to keep pears fresh for storage? Master these methods to store them longer

(1) Raised-bed pit storage method. This is a main storage method used in the Huangxian Changba pear producing area. Before harvesting the pears, choose between-row spaces in the orchard with good ventilation, cool and dry conditions, and a low water table. Build raised beds running north-south, with a bed width of 1.5 m to 2 m; the bed length depends on the storage quantity. The bed surface should be about 10 cm above the ground, slightly higher in the center and slightly lower on both sides, with ridges about 15 cm high built up around the perimeter. Spread a layer of fine sand 5 cm to 10 cm thick on the bed surface. At the four corners of the bed ridges and along the two long sides, drive a wooden post every 750 mm, with a post height of 750 mm, half of which is inserted into the soil. On the inner side of the wooden posts, set up mats woven from sorghum or corn stalks or chaste twigs along the four sides of the bed ridges, and press two layers of intact, hole-free kraft paper tightly against the inside of the mats; where the paper joins, the edges must overlap and be pressed together. After the fruit is harvested, pre-store it between the trees in a ventilated, cool place, and after Frost's Descent put it into the beds for storage. When storing, first spray water once on the dry sandy soil on the bed surface, remove fruit that has been bumped, crushed, punctured, or affected by pests or diseases, and place the pears layer by layer. Handle them gently when placing to avoid bruising, crushing, or puncturing the pears and causing rot during storage. Shape the top of the pear pile into a small arc, with the sides level with the bed pit and the center pile top about 70 cm to 80 cm high vertically. Immediately after the fruit is placed, cover and seal it tightly with 2 to 4 layers of kraft paper, then lay a layer of straw mats crosswise on top.

(2) Indoor storage method. The indoor storage method for Laiyang Chii pear is a method commonly used by farmers in Laiyang. Using this method to store Laiyang Chii pear for 4 to 5 months, the peel remains fresh green and the flesh shows no discoloration. Before harvesting the fruit, spray with a high-dose Bordeaux mixture (1:3:200). After harvest, select fruit free of pests, diseases, and mechanical injury and put it into fruit baskets or boxes. Line the fruit baskets or boxes with polyethylene fresh-keeping bags 0.06 mm to 0.07 mm thick, and add quicklime to the bags at 5% of the fruit weight. Wrap the lime in paper in several small packets and place them separately in different places in the fruit baskets or boxes. In mid-to-late October, when the outside temperature drops, move the Laiyang Chii pears that have been pre-cooled in a cool, ventilated place into an empty room. After moving them indoors, if the room temperature is lower than outdoors during the day and higher than outdoors at night, hang cloth curtains over the doors and windows during the day, and open all the door curtains at night, making full use of the convection between the outside low temperature and the room temperature to lower the room temperature. When the outside temperature is below 0°C, the windows must be sealed; when it gets even colder, hang cotton door curtains on the doors to maintain the temperature. The indoor temperature should preferably be 0°C. During storage, pay attention to frequently opening the bag mouths for ventilation.

(3) Cold storage. Pears can be stored in cold storage. During cold storage, pay attention to the occurrence of chilling injury. Ya pear, Xuehua pear, and Changba pear cannot be put directly into 0°C cold storage after harvest like apples. Otherwise, the pears will develop severe black heart. Generally, put them into storage at above 10°C, lower the temperature by 1°C each week, and after lowering it to 7°C to 8°C, then lower it by 1°C every 3 days until it drops to about 0°C. This period takes about 30 to 50 days.

(4) Controlled atmosphere storage. Controlled atmosphere storage can delay browning of the pear flesh and core, delay degreening, and maintain the crispness and flavor of the pears. In addition to simple controlled atmosphere storage using large tents and small polyethylene bag packaging, controlled atmosphere storage can also be carried out using controlled atmosphere warehouses and controlled atmosphere machines. Its controlled atmosphere storage method is similar to that for apples, except that the carbon dioxide concentration must be strictly controlled. Keep the carbon dioxide concentration controlled to the lowest possible level.