Recent research of film wrapping of fresh produce in Florida.
Miller W. R., Risse L. A.
Author Affiliation: Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Orlando, FL 23803, USA.
: 1521-1530
Abstract : Since the early 1980s, many studies have been conducted to explore the benefits of wrapping fresh produce in plastic film as a technique for maintaining fresh quality during postharvest storage and transport. In Florida, specific commodities included in these studies are bell peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, aubergines, lettuces, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries, mangoes, grapefruits, lemons and oranges. Film wrapping reduces moisture loss, retards softening, and maintains characteristic freshness with reduced colour development during extended periods of storage and marketing. Effects of individual film wrapping on respiration, quality and flavour, and its use in conjunction with commodity treatments for citrus, such as fumigation, have also been studied. With cold storage, individual wrapping reduces chilling injury in grapefruits, lemons and bell peppers. In recent trials, wrapped grapefruits conditioned at 34°C (30 or 95% RH) for 72 h and stored at 1 or 4° for 4 weeks plus 1 week at 21° showed significantly less chilling injury and green mould rot than similarly treated waxed fruits, and were similar to waxed control fruit held at 10°.