Solid/spaced a new carloading pattern for tight-fill packed fruit

During the past season a new carloading pattern for the shipment of fresh fruit was developed and tested. This “solid/spaced” loading pattern used tiers of solid containers alternating with tiers of spaced (but secured) boxes. It was effective for the loading of plums and nectarines in corrugated paper containers. The new loading method is easy and economical. It helps maintain load and temperature stability during transit with no ill effects on the container or its contents. It appears to offer a solution to many problems which have limited the acceptance of new packages for fruits such as cherries, peaches, and nectarines. It could also provide a margin of safety for pears or plums which may require a few degrees of additional cooling during transit. The results of these tests indicate that this loading pattern is worth evaluating for commercial use.