Interstate Shipment and Storage of Fresh Muscadine Grapes

Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia michx.) are highly perishable, with a short harvest season. The objective of this study was to enhance the commercial viability of muscadine grapes by developing harvesting and handling systems through interstate shipment studies, using sulfur dioxide and/or polyethylene overwrap treatments. Cultivars Fry, Summit and Granny Val from Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi, respectively, were shipped from each region to the other in refrigerated trucks for subsequent storage at OC and evaluation at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Biochemical properties: pH, titratable acidity and degrees Brix, remained fairly constant with time for all cultivars, under all treatments. The cultivar, Granny Val, which was shipped, wrinkled after 2 weeks' storage, but maintained 6 weeks' shelf‐life in the in‐house study. ‘Summit’ shelf‐life was increased to 4 weeks with SO2 treatment at all test sites while ‘Fry’ became bleached by SO2. The shelf‐life of ‘Fry’ was 6 weeks in the in‐house study using