As the storage life of many popular varieties of apples is limited in England by their susceptibility to low temperature breakdown, gas storage was developed as an alternative means of retarding the ripening of the fruit. Although the method does not decrease the susceptibility to low temperature breakdown it does permit longer storage at relatively high temperatures (40 F). It is used extensively in Great Britain and America and it also has general application for storage at 32° F.
As the store is sealed off and no fruit is removed until the end of the storage period, it is essential that only prime fruit fit for long storage is selected. It has little benefit for the short- term storage of apples