StePacPCC is aiming to preserve the freshness and appearance of the pitaya fruit (dragon fruit) during its journey from Ecuador to the US and Europe, through its Modified Atmosphere/Modified Humidity (MA/MH) bulk packaging films.
The company’s Xtend range of packaging films has been adapted to meet the postharvest requirements of the pitaya, seeking to ensure the fruit reaches customers in ‘peak quality and appearance’. The fruit is native to Central and South America and must endure multiple challenges during sea shipments to destination markets around the world, which StePacPPC says can stretch to three weeks or more.
Challenges to the fruit’s freshness and quality during this journey include high respiration rates, moisture loss, and susceptibility to microbial decay. In response to this, the new packaging solution balances oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations and provides moisture control to protect the pitaya during extended storage and shipment.
The packaging is said to reduce dehydration, the respiration rate of the fruit and inhibit microbial decay, slowing fruit deterioration. The company adds that its range of film structures all incorporate antifog properties and various water vapour transmission rates (WVTR).
Apparently, these qualities enable precise moisture management tailored to specific produce requirements, balancing mitigation of microbial decay risk with prevention of excessive weight loss while maintaining ‘excellent’ product visibility.
In related news, we spoke to Fresh Inset and Avery Dennison about Vidre+ last year, their entry in the Sustainability Awards - said to transform any label into a smart, active label that extends fruit and vegetable freshness with adjustable dosage per crop variety and pack size. The companies say Vidre+ is adaptable to various packaging types from boxes to clamshells, and its use post-harvest maximizes protection during distribution, while no residue will be left by the time the crops reach retail.
More recently, Mondi and Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable exporter Özler Tarım teamed up on a corrugated fibre solution aiming to reduce food waste, protect products and optimize operational processes. The new packaging features a double-wall corrugated fibre structure and a flat-stackable design, aiming to suit the humidity and temperature fluctuations of long-distance shipments.
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