Abstract

Harvesting blueberries at an optimal maturity stage, is an important determinant of quality, especially when fruit are intended for long term storage. However, because blueberries set and ripen asynchronously, several pickings are needed. In general, shorter harvest intervals (4 d) are advised to maximize fruit firmness, but due to labor shortages, the industry has sometimes been forced to increase the number of days between harvests. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the postharvest impact of picking regimes where labor is not limiting (every 3 d) vs. a strategy driven by a labor shortage that would force a single harvest on the ninth day (9 d) in two cultivars with contrasting ripening windows: 'Duke' (-30 d) and 'Brigitta' (-60 d). Following an initial synchronizing picking (-4 - 7% full blue fruit), harvest interval intensity was studied: harvests after 3 d (3 x 1), after 3 and 6 d (3 x 2), after 3, 6, and 9 d (3 x 3), and after 9 d (9 x 1). Of these, only 3 x 1, 3 x 3, and 9 x 1 were evaluated. Fruit position within the canopy (east- and west-oriented sides) was considered as a second factor. Data suggests that shorter harvest intervals (3 d) would be more suitable for cultivars with a prolonged ripening window (e.g., 'Brigitta') compared to a cultivar with shorter harvest season (e.g., 'Duke'), for which longer cycles (9 d) would be preferred. Although the results show that, at harvest time, the picking management strategy had a greater effect than east-west position of the fruit, interactions between the factors were found after storage. Finally, although firmness values at harvest can be an important descriptor of storage potential of each cultivar, the rate and extent of softening after harvest were also strongly impacted by the cultivar.