Metal pallet boxes in California are usually painted white to reduce the heating of metal by the sun. This could also reduce corrosion, particularly if a catalyst-type epoxy paint is used. Any preservatives used on citrus containers must be approved for contact with citrus by the appropriate federal and state agencies. Even a minute amount of contamination on the citrus peel must be approved as a food additive or the fruit can be considered to be illegal and could result in fruit seizure and destruction. Generally there is less damage to citrus fruit handled in pallet boxes than in the Florida field box mentioned above.
Most damage comes from contact with the container rather than with other fruit.
In pallet boxes less than half as many fruit contact the container as in the two compartment Florida field boxes. Nevertheless, some fruit quality comments are worth emphasizing. Do not overfill containers. Fruit loss from overfilled pallet boxes far exceed any economies that might be realized by overfilling. If the bottom of the box can noticeably flex when the full box is lifted, the consequent distortion will damage fruit in the bottom.