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Properties and Recommended Conditions
for Storage of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Compiled by Marita Cantwell
November 2001
By Scientific Name: B

View the charts as Web pages or in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The PDF files can be downloaded, viewed, and then printed by using Adobe Acrobat Reader©, which is freely available from the Adobe site. Download adobe graphic Adobe Acrobat Reader.


Scientific name
Common name
Storage temperature
Relative humidity
Highest freezing temperature
Ethylene* production
Ethylene** sensitivity
Approximate storage-life
Observations and 
Beneficial CA conditions
 
 
°C
°F
%
°C
°F
 
 
 
  
Beta vulgaris Beet, bunched 0 32 98-100 -0.4 31.3 VL L 10-14 days  
Beta vulgaris Beet, topped 0 32 98-100 -0.9 30.3 VL L 4 months  
Beta vulgaris var. Cicla Chard 0 32 95-100     VL H 10-14 days  
Brassica alboglabra Chinese broccoli; Gailan 0 32 95-100     VL H 10-14 days  
Brassica campestris 
var Pekinensis 		 Chinese cabbage; 
Napa cabbage		 0 32 95-100 -0.9 30.4 VL M-H 2-3 months 1-2% O2 + 0-5% CO2
Brassica campestris var. Rapifera Turnip root 0 32 95 -1.0 30.1 VL L 4-5 months  
Brassica chinensis Bok choy 0 32 95-100     VL H 3 weeks  
Brassica juncea  Mustard greens 0 32 90-95     VL H 7-14 days  
Brassica napus var. 
Napobrassica		 Rutabaga 0 32 98-100 -1.1 30.1 VL L 4-6 months  
Brassica oleracea var. Acephala Collards, Kale 0 32 95-100 -0.5 31.1 VL H 10-14 days  
Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis Cauliflower 0 32 95-98 -0.8 30.6 VL H 3-4 weeks 2-5% O2 + 2-5% CO2
Brassica oleracea var. Capitata Common cabbage, early 0 32 98-100 -0.9 30.4 VL H 3-6 weeks  
" " late crop 0 32 95-100 -0.9 30.4 VL H 5-6 months 3-5% O2 + 3-7% CO2
Brassica oleracea var. Gemnifera Brussel Sprouts 0 32 95-100 -0.8 30.5 VL H 3-5 weeks 1-2% O2 + 5-7% CO2
Brassica oleracea var. Gongylodes Kohlrabi 0 32 98-100 -1.0 30.2 VL L 2-3 months no CA benefit
Brassica oleracea var. Italica Broccoli 0 32 95-100 -0.6 31.0 VL H 10-14 days 1-2% O2 + 5-10% CO2 
*Ethylene production rate:
VL = very low (<0.1 µL/kg-hr at 20°C)
L = low (0.1=1.0 µL/kg-hr)
M = moderate (1.0-10.0 µL/kg-hr)
H = high (10-100 µL/kg-hr)
VH = very high (>100 µL/kg-hr)

**Ethylene sensitivity (detrimental effects include yellowing, softening, increased decay, loss of leaves, browning)
L = low sensitivity
M= moderately sensitive
H = highly sensitive 

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Produce/Storage/sci_b.shtml updated June 10, 2002