Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
being developed in a variety of forms, ranging from
nanocomposite materials and active materials to bio-based
and biodegradable materials.
From an overall perspective, packaging is a product-
package-environment interaction. While the end target is
consumers, packaging provides communications among
the parties involved in the supply chain of the packaged
products.
ROLE OF PACKAGING IN FRESH
AND PROCESSED TROPICAL
AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS
Basically, packaging is involved in products through one
or more functions. Packaging can be classified by layers
as primary packaging, secondary packaging, tertiary pack-
aging, or quaternary packaging. Primary packaging refers
to the first packaging layer that is in direct contact with
the products, while secondary packaging contains primary
packaging, and so on. Packaging requirements are differ-
ent among fresh and various processed products. In se-
lecting the proper packaging, a number of factors must be
considered. In principle, the three main factors are fruit
characteristics, marketing and/or consumer requirements,
and logistics and/or distribution environments—while at
the same time considering cost concerns and environmental
impacts.
Figure 7.1.
Slight (a), moderate (b), and severe
(c) skin bruising of pineapples observed 24 hours
after the vibration tests and slight (d), moderate (e),
and severe (f) flesh bruising after storage for 5 days
at room temperature (28
◦
±
Packaging of fresh tropical and subtropical fruits
Fresh fruits require packaging from farm to end consumer.
Supply chain models of fresh produce have changed over
time. Fresh fruits are generally packed in bulk containers
or loaded on the truck and transferred to packinghouse or
processing plants for preparing fruits for the retail markets.
To date, produce industry has shifted toward the use of
shipping containers for field packing, transportation, stor-
age, and display without any repacking. This model has
not yet commonly been used in many countries in trop-
ical and subtropical regions. Many tropical and subtropi-
cal fruits are susceptible to mechanical damages, resulting
in high percentages of losses during handling and distri-
bution (Fig. 7.1). Proper packaging and cushioning were
shown to reduce damage and loss of fruits such as apples
(Singh et al., 1992) and tropical fruits including mangoes
(Chonhenchob and Singh, 2003), papayas (Chonhenchob
and Singh, 2005), tangerines (Jarimopas et al., 2005), and
pineapples (Chonhenchob et al., 2007). Shipping containers
should be strong, easy to handle, and stackable. Shipping
containers for fresh fruits should allow proper precooling
2
◦
C). Reprinted with
permission from Packaging Technology and Science
21: 73-83 (2008). For color detail, please see color
plate section.
after harvest and ventilation during storage. In addition to
cold room design, air cooling is closely related to packaging
materials, design, and stacking patterns, which result in dif-
ferent cooling rates, which affect the quality and shelf life
of fresh fruits. Figure 7.2 shows cooling rates of pineapple
in various shipping containers.
Two major types of shipping containers currently being
used for packaging of fresh fruits are reusable plastic
containers (RPCs) and corrugated containers. Wooden con-
tainers are still in use for harvest and distribution in some
regions, however, these have reduced gradually. The regu-
lar slotted container (RSC) and full telescope design (FTD)
are the most common types for packaging of fresh fruits.
In response to the advantages of common footprints of
RPCs over corrugated containers, standardized corrugated
Search WWH ::
Custom Search