Celtic Orchards, Apple Testing
The quality of the apples
that you receive is of utmost importance to us. For that reason
we test them in a number of ways.
Each time we pack apples, we take a few random samples and test
them for soluble solids. The minimum figure for a Celtic
Orchards apple is 12% soluble solids. If the sample fruits are
below this, then the apples will not be packed, and will be used
for juice or some other purpose instead. This guarantees that
the apples you get will taste pleasantly sweet.
We also test apples for firmness. A penetrometer is used to do
this. The minimum firmness is rated at 6kg. If a sample apple
falls below this, the apples will not be sold under the Celtic
Orchards brand. While the apples will continue to become less
firm while they are in the shops or in your fruit bowl, we feel
confident that by only packing apples of 6kg firmness or
greater, you will get a good eating experience, even a few weeks
later.
A residue test is also conducted. This is to ensure that there
are no traces of chemicals in or on your fruits. A few weeks
before packing, a sample of randomly selected apples is sent to
an independent laboratory, and they test for chemicals. If any
chemical are found in the sample, the apples will not be sold.