If air shipments are made, and the stems remain on a runway for extended periods of time without refrigeration, stems will undergo irreversible damage. Heat, dryness, light, and ethylene all are capable of reducing quality in a few hours. Broken tips and crushed stems are the most common types of damage inflicted by machines. Damage can occur at any stage of the handling chain, but is most common during selection, grouping, and packing. Damage can be minimized by careful handling and by reducing the number of handling operations.
Stems become soft, watery, and gray at the tips.
For longer storage, 2oC is an optimal storage temperature. Doubling is shown by growth in a non-vertical direction. This growth can occur after harvesting if the stems are laid on their sides for a day or more at storage temperatures higher than the optimum. Doubling can also occur if the stem tips reach the top of the carton and are then directed to one side. Feathering can be avoided by careful selection at harvest, rapid precooling, cold chain maintenance, and optimal storage conditions.