The 'Calypso' blueberry has emerged as a popular variety widely planted in the Pacific Northwest. Its reputed storage quality and reasonable firmness suggest its suitability for mechanical harvesting in the fresh market using over-the-row machine harvesters. To explore its postharvest quality after both hand and machine harvest, we conducted a comprehensive study in a commercial, 7-year old 'Calypso' field in Oregon. Additionally, a drop test was employed to simulate machine harvesting for fresh market blueberries. Throughout a 4-week period of cold storage, fruit firmness generally remained stable, with occasional increases noted, while berry size remained consistent, indicating 'Calypso' maintains good storage quality. Examination of fruit internal bruise damage (IBD) by cutting berries along the equator revealed consistent levels of IBD throughout cold storage, elucidating why 'Calypso' enjoys a good shelf life. The drop test demonstrated 'Calypso's' resilience to damage from drops, with a similar pattern of fruit IBD development observed between drop-tested and machine-harvested fruits. This study highlights the slow rate of IBD development in 'Calypso' fruit as a crucial factor contributing to its success in machine harvesting for fresh market operations.
