{"id":105,"date":"2018-02-02T10:50:38","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T01:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ringodaigaku.com\/ringo_blog\/english\/?p=105"},"modified":"2019-10-17T09:24:07","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T00:24:07","slug":"__trashed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ringodaigaku.com\/ringo_blog\/english\/2018\/02\/02\/105.html","title":{"rendered":"The process of \u201cMojie Ringo\u201d, or printing letters and a design on the surface of the apple No. 1 [Applying a seal]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cMojie Ringo\u201d is a harvested apple with artistically printed letters and designs on the skin
\nHere is the report from our visit to one of the producers to observe the process of \u201cMojie Ringo\u201d apples.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The apples that are bagged during cultivation are used for \u201cMojie Ringo.\u201d\u00a0 Bagging apples enables farmers to block direct sunlight.\u00a0 Exposing the fruit to sunlight after a certain time immediately encourages them to produce anthocyanin, a component that turns the skin red.\u00a0 Areas covered with a seal will be left non-red, so letters and designs will appear clearly on the skin.<\/p>\n

For information on the coloring of apples, click here<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n

Mojie Ringo <\/em>apples are cultivated in the same method as normal ones, except for the final procedure:\u00a0\u00a0 seals are applied on the surface of the apple after it is unbagged, and they are removed after the harvest, just before boxing. In order to promote the coloring of apples, the work of pruning leaves<\/a> is indispensable.<\/p>\n

Large apple varieties like \u201cMutsu<\/a>\u201d or \u201cStark Jumbo\u201d are used for Mojie Ringo,<\/em> with designs of good luck charms and Christmas-related items, etc.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since the \u201cMutsu\u201d apple variety has yellow skin from the beginning, triple-layered bags are used for a higher light shielding in order to color them red.<\/p>\n

First, the outer two bags are removed.<\/p>\n

4 or 5 days later, when the last bag is removed, the seal is applied.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The material of the seal is a plastic sheeting, the same as the one used for cars and advertising boards.<\/p>\n

Because the apples still grow after applying the seals, its elasticity helps the seal to remain right on the surface and maintain a sharp outline for the design.<\/p>\n

It only takes a few seconds to attach a simple letter, but the finely drawn designs require a pair of tweezers to apply the seal.\u00a0 Because of the uneven surface of the fruit, seals tend to become distorted.\u00a0 The workers were using a pair of scissors to cut off the extra material in order to fit it perfectly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here is a \u201cStark Jumbo\u201d apple.\u00a0 Some fruit weigh more than 1000g, and it is bigger than a \u201cSekai Ichi\u201d, or the World No. 1. apple.\u00a0 The average \u201cFuji\u201d weighs 300~400g, so Stark Jumbo is about 3 times as heavy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because of the weight, a single fruit dropping off the branch causes other fruit on the tree to fall as well.\u00a0 So, the risky fruit is covered with a net pouch to keep it firmly affixed on the branch.<\/p>\n

Using a big surface, designs can be larger and more complicated.\u00a0 We found some apples with their entire surface covered with patterns.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the next article, No. 2 [Coloring ~ Finishing], we\u2019d like to report on the process of coloring.<\/p>\n

\"APPLE\n\n \n\n\"APPLE<\/a>Apple University is a virtual university where you can learn many things about apples in a fun way.\n\u21d2\u3000Click here to go to the site.<\/a>\n

<\/div>