New Packaging Solutions for Perishable Fruits and Vegetables

Most of us build our meal plans and grocery lists with some consideration to with some consideration to perishable and non perishable foods, whether we realize it or not.

- Hemya Singh

To put it simply: Some foods can live in your pantry for months without going bad, while others might last just a few days.

In short, perishable foods are those that spoil or “go bad” quickly if they’re not stored at certain temperatures.

If we talk about one of the highly perishable products, Fruits and vegetables, Packaging fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the more important steps in the long and complicated journey from grower to consumer.

PACKAGING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Packaging is one of the important considerations in vegetable and fruit market to reduce post-harvest losses and to make attractive to consumers.

The use of properly designed containers for transporting and marketing of fruits and vegetables can maintain their freshness succulence and quality for longer period.

The package must be capable of protecting the product from the transport hazards; preventing the microbial and insect damage; minimizing the physiological and biochemical changes and losses in weight. Packaging is required not only for preservation and protection but also for safe transportation of products during storage and handling.

CHARACTERISTICS OF IDEAL PACKAGING

• It must have sufficient mechanical strength and should be capable of providing efficient handling unit for customers and dealers.

• It should have convenient ware house or storage unit strength i.e. good compression strength and puncture resistance to tolerate the load of packages above it.