And Ripening M aturity at harvest is the most important factor that determines storage-life and fruit quality to the consumer.
Immature fruits are more likely to shrivel and are of inferior quality when ripe.
Overripe fruits are likely to become soft and mealy soon after harvest. Fruits picked either too early or too late in the season are more likely to have a shorter storage-life than those picked at the proper maturity. Most are picked at a time which is a compromise between the best eating quality to the consumer and that which provide the needed flexibility in marketing. C alifornia has mandatory quality standards for most fresh fruits. Enforcement of these standards is the responsibility of the Agriculture Commissioner in each county.