Fresh Vegetables Recommended Pre-Cooling & Maintenance Environment
 

Storage/Transit
Temperature

Relative Humidity (percent)
Approximate
Storage Life
Highest
Freezing Point
Acceptable Pre-Cooling Methods
Commodity
°C
°F
°C
°F
Artichokes, globe
0
32
95-100
2-3 weeks
-1.1
29.9
F, H, I
Artichokes, Jerusalem
-0.5
31-32
90-95
4-5 months
-2.2
28
F, H, I
Asparagus
0-2
32-35
95-100
2-3 weeks
-0.6
30.9
H
Beans, dry
4-10
40-50
40-50
6-10 months
--
--
H, F
Beans, green or snap
4-7
40-45
95
7-10 days
-0.7
30.7
H, F
Beans, lima
3-5
37-41
95
5-7 days
-0.6
31
H, F
Bean sprouts
0
32
95-100
7-9 days
--
--
H
Beets, bunched
0
32
98-100
10-14 days
-0.4
31.3
H, I, F
Beets, topped
0
32
98-100
4-6 months
-0.9
30.3
H, I
Broccoli
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
-0.6
30.9
I, H, F
Brussels sprouts
0
32
95-100
3-5 weeks
-0.8
30.5
H, F, I
Cabbage, early
0
32
98-100
3-6 weeks
-0.9
30.4
V, F
Cabbage, late
0
32
98-100
5-6 months
-0.9
30.4
V, F
Cabbage, Chinese
0
32
95-100
2-3 months
--
--
V, F
Carrots, bunched
0
32
95-100
2 weeks
--
--
H, I, F
Carrots, mature
0
32
98-100
7-9 months
-1.4
29.5
H, I, F
Carrots, Immature
0
32
98-100
4-6 weeks
-1.4
29.5
H, I, F
Cassava
0-5
32-41
85-90
1-2 months
--
--
H, I, F
Cauliflower
0
32
95-98
3-4 weeks
-0.8
30.6
F, V
Celeriac
0
32
97-99
6-8 months
-0.9
30.3
H, WV, V
Celery
0
32
98-100
2-3 months
-0.5
31.1
H,WV, V
Chard
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
--
--
WV, R, F
Chicory, witloof
0
32
95-100
2-4 weeks
--
--
F
Collards
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
-0.8
30.6
WV, F, R
Corn, sweet
0
32
95-98
5-8 days
-0.6
30.9
H, I, V, F
Cucumbers
10-13
50-55
95
10-14 days
-0.5
31.1
F, R
Eggplants
8-12
46-54
90-95
1 week
-0.8
30.6
F, R
Endive and escarole
0
32
95-100
2-3 weeks
-0.1
31.9
WV, F, H
Garlic
0
32
65-70
6-7 months
-0.8
30.5
R, F
Ginger
13
55
65
6 months
--
--
F
Greens, leafy
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
--
--
WV, H, F
Horseradish
-1
30-32
98-100
10-12 months
-1.8
28.7
H, I
Jicama
13-18
55-65
65-70
1-2 months
--
--
H, I
Kale
0
32
95-100
2-3 weeks
-0.5
31.1
WV, F
Kohlrabi
0
32
98-100
2-3 months
-1
30.2
 
Leeks
0
32
95-100
2-3 months
-0.7
30.7
I, H
Lettuce
0
32
98-100
2-3 weeks
-0.2
31.7
WV, V, F
Melons
     Cantaloup (3/4-slip)
2-5
36-41
95
15 days
-1.2
29.9
H, F, I
     Cantaloup (full slip)
0-2
32-36
95
5-14 days
-1.2
29.9
H, F, I
     Casaba
10
50
90-95
3 weeks
-1
30.1
H, F, I
     Crenshaw
7
45
90-95
2 weeks
-1
30.1
F, R
     Honey Dew
7
45
90-95
3 weeks
-0.9
30.3
H, F, I
     Persian
7
45
90-95
2 weeks
-0.8
30.5
H, F, I
     Watermelons
10-15
50-60
90
2-3 weeks
-0.4
31.3
H, F
Mushrooms
0
32
95
3-4 days
-0.9
30.4
F, V
Okra
7-10
45-50
90-95
7-10 days
-1.8
28.7
H, F
Onion, green
0
32
95-100
3-4 weeks
-0.9
30.4
I, H
Onion, dry
0
32
65-70
1-8 months
-0.8
30.6
R
Onion, sets
0
32
65-70
6-8 months
-0.8
30.6
R, F
Parsley
0
32
95-100
2-2.5 months
-1.1
30
I, H
Parsnips
0
32
98-100
4-6 months
-0.9
30.4
H, I
Peas, green
0
32
95-98
1-2 weeks
-0.6
30.9
F, V, I
Peas, southern
4-5
40-41
95
6-8 days
--
--
F, V, I
Peppers, chili (dry)
0-10
32-50
60-70
6 months
--
--
F, V, R
Peppers, sweet
7-13
45-55
90-95
2-3 weeks
-0.7
30.7
F, V, R
Potatoes, early crop    
90-95
 
-0.6
30.9
R, H
Potatoes, late crop    
90-95
5-10 months
-0.6
30.9
R, H
Pumpkins
10-13
50-55
50-70
2-3 months
-0.8
30.5
R
Radishes, spring
0
32
95-100
3-4 weeks
-0.7
30.7
H, I, F
Radishes, winter
0
32
95-100
2-4 months
--
--
H, I, F
Rhubarb
0
32
95-100
2-4 weeks
-0.9
30.3
H, WV
Rutabagas
0
32
98-100
4-6 months
-1.1
30
H, I, F
Salsify
0
32
95-98
2-4 months
-1.1
30
 
Spinach
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
-0.3
31.5
WV, H, F
Squashes, summer
5-10
41-50
95
1-2 weeks
-0.5
31.1
R, F
Squashes, winter
10
50
50-70
 
-0.8
30.5
R, F
Sweet potatoes
13-16
55-60
85-90
4-7 months
-1.3
29.7
R, F
Tamarillos
3-4
37-40
85-95
10 weeks
--
--
R, F
Taro (Dasheen)
7-10
45-50
85-90
4-5 months
--
--
F, R
Tomatoes, mature-green
13-21
55-70
90-95
1-3 weeks
-0.6
31
R, F
Tomatoes, firm-ripe
8-10
46-50
90-95
4-7 days
-0.5
31.1
R, F
Turnips
0
32
95
4-5 months
-1
30.1
H, I, F
Turnip greens
0
32
95-100
10-14 days
-0.2
31.7
WV, F
Waterchestnuts
0-2
32-36
98-100
1-2 months
--
--
H, F
Watercress
0
32
95-100
2-3 weeks
-0.3
31.4
I, H
Yams
16
61
70-80
6-7 months
--
--
R, H
Apples
-5
30-40
90-95
1-12 months
-1.5
29.3
F, R
Apricots
-0.5
31-32
90-95
1-3 weeks
-1
30.1
F
Avocados
4.4-13
40-55
85-90
2-8 weeks
-0.3
31.5
H, F
Bananas, green
13-14
56-58
90-95
 
-0.7
30.6
F
Berries
     Blackberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-3 days
-0.7
30.5
F
     Blueberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2 weeks
-1.2
29.7
F
     Cranberries
2-4
36-40
90-95
2-4 months
-0.8
30.4
F
     Currants
-0.5
31-32
90-95
1-4 weeks
-1
30.2
F
     Dewberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-3 days
-1.2
29.7
F
     Elderberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
1-2 weeks
--
--
F
     Gooseberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
3-4 weeks
-1
30
F
     Loganberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-3 days
-1.2
29.7
F
     Raspberries
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-3 days
-1
30
F
     Strawberries
0
32
90-95
5-7 days
-0.7
30.6
F
Carambola
9-10
48-50
85-90
3-4 weeks
--
--
 
Cherries, sour
0
32
90-95
3-7 days
-1.7
29
H, F
Cherries, sweet
-1 to -0.5
30-31
90-95
2-3 weeks
-1.8
28.8
H, F
Coconuts
0-1.5
32-35
80-85
1-2 months
-0.9
30.4
F
Dates
-18 or 0
0 or 32
75
6-12 months
-15.7
3.7
F
Figs, fresh
-0.5
31-32
85-90
7-10 days
-2.4
27.6
F
Grapefruit, Calif. & Ariz.
14-15.5
58-60
85-90
6-8 weeks
--
--
R, F
Grapefruit, Fla. & Texas
10-15
50-60
85-90
6-8 weeks
-1
30
R, F
Grapes, Vinifera
-1 to -0.5
30-31
90-95
1-6 months
-2.1
28.1
F
Grapes, American
-0.5
31-32
85
2-8 weeks
-1.2
29.7
F
Guavas
5-10
41-50
90
2-3 weeks
--
--
F
Kiwifruit
-0.5
31-32
90-95
3-5 months
-1.6
29
F
Lemons    
85-90
1-6 months
-1.4
29.4
R, F
Limes
9-10
48-50
85-90
6-8 weeks
-1.6
29.1
R, F
Loquats
0
32
90
3 weeks
--
--
F
Lychees
1.5
35
90-95
3-5 weeks
--
--
F, H
Mangos
13
55
85-90
2-3 weeks
-0.9
30.3
F
Nectarines
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-4 weeks
-0.9
30.4
F, H
Olives, fresh
5-10
41-50
85-90
4-6 weeks
-1.4
29.4
F, R
Oranges, Calif. & Ariz.
3-9
38-48
85-90
3-8 weeks
-1.2
29.7
R, F
Oranges, Fla. & Texas
0-1
32-34
85-90
8-12 weeks
-0.7
30.6
R, F
Papayas
7
45
85-90
1-3 weeks
-0.9
30.4
F
Passion fruit
7-10
45-50
85-90
3-5 weeks
--
--
F
Peaches
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-4 weeks
-0.9
30.3
F, H
Pears
-1.5 to -0.5
29-31
90-95
2-7 months
-1.5
29.2
R, F
Persimmons, Japanese
-1
30
90
3-4 months
-2.1
28.1
F
Pineapples
7-13
45-55
85-90
2-4 weeks
-1.1
30
F
Plums and prunes
-0.5
31-32
90-95
2-5 weeks
-0.8
30.5
F, H
Pomegranates
5
41
90-95
2-3 months
-3
26.6
F
Quinces
-0.5
31-32
90
2-3 months
-2
28.4
 
Tangerines, mandarins, & related citrus fruits
4