Because of the irregular form, the fruits must be carefully fitted together with the base of each fruit against the wall of the container and the more delicate apex inward. Trees 5 years old are expected to bear 50 fruits annually. An exceptionally large atemoya tree in Florida yielded 11 bushels of fruits in the 1972 season. Keeping Quality Atemoyas keep very well in cool, shady, well-ventilated storage for at least 3 weeks. The rind may darken before the interior shows any signs of spoilage.
Lower temperatures cause chilling injury.
In Queensland, the protective activities of the natural enemies of the mealybug are disrupted by the coastal brown ant, Pheidole megacephala , which carries mealybugs up the trunk and around between the fruits. Australian growers have tried sticky-banding the trunks and this has reduced the numbers of ants but not sufficiently. The chalcid fly that lays eggs in the seeds and makes exit holes in the fruit permitting entrance of fungi, occasionally causes mummification of the atemoya. White wax, pink wax, and brown olive scales may be found on the foliage but are shed along with the leaves. The atemoya, preferably chilled, is one of the most delicious of fruits.