Shelf-life Evaluation of Eastern Cantaloupe Cultivars

As of 2018, Indiana cultivated approximately 1,800 acres of cantaloupes, primarily of the eastern type. For over a decade, ‘Aphrodite’ has been the most popular cultivar. Recently, extended shelf-life cultivars have been introduced and are gaining popularity in Indiana. Commercially, cantaloupes are typically harvested at the half-slip stage and are recommended to be stored at 36 to 45 °F with 95% relative humidity, allowing for an expected shelf-life of 10-14 days (Shellie and Lester, 2016). With the introduction of new cultivars, questions have arisen regarding how harvest maturity, storage temperature, and storage duration impact the shelf-life of both established and newly introduced cantaloupe cultivars. Additionally, while fruits are stored at the recommended temperatures on farm and during transport, they are displayed at room temperature once they arrive in stores. Limited information is available on the shelf-life of cantaloupes after exposure to room temperature following cold storage. This study was then designed to address these questions.