*2.3. Free-Fall Drop Test*

A Lansmont Model PDT 227 Precision Drop Tester (Lansmont Corporation, Monterey, CA, USA) was used to perform the free-fall drop events (Figure 2). Impact bruises were produced by dropping each corrugated container five times from a predetermined drop height onto the concrete floor surface of the drop test equipment. In this study, the packages were dropped onto the bottom panel of the package from two drop heights, 30 cm and 50 cm. The testing was performed in duplicate for each package configuration at the two different drop heights.

**Figure 2.** Packaged product on the Lansmont PDT 227.

To record the impact acceleration of the apple from the free-fall drop event, a model HT356B21 triaxial accelerometer (PCB Piezotronics, Inc., Depew, NY, USA) was attached to the apple located in the corner cell of the top tray. The sensor was placed in this position to ensure it would not shear off during the impacts with surrounding apples. The Lansmont Test Partner 3 (Lansmont Corporation, Monterey, CA, USA) processed the signal events and the resultant acceleration from each impact recorded.
