What essential step strips away the apple's original delicate wax coating before packing?

Necessary scrubbing to remove field dirt and debris

Apples, upon being harvested, must pass through a necessary cleaning phase intended to remove contaminants picked up in the orchard, such as field dirt, leaves, and other debris. This mechanical scrubbing process, required before the fruit is sorted and packed for distribution, is rigorous enough that it inadvertently removes or significantly diminishes the fruit’s naturally occurring, delicate wax coating, known as the bloom. Once this natural protection is stripped away, the fruit becomes highly susceptible to rapid moisture loss, softening, and structural degradation during the prolonged periods of transit and storage necessary before reaching the final point of sale.