Summary Chromatographic analyses of ethanolic extracts of the skin of Mcintosh apples, sampled from the field during mid- to late-fruit development and from apples in late storage, indicate that substantial quantities of sorbitol are present in the fruit skin. Average concentrations of sorbitol in the skin during fruit development and during late storage were 8.7 and 10.8 mg/g of fresh weight, respectively, and these values were 1.6 and 2.3 times, respectively, the concentrations found in the corresponding pulp tissues. The significance of this finding is discussed.