Articles
Maintaining the quality of strawberry fruit in long-term storage by keeping the environment at low temperature and high humidity
Article number
1426_14
Pages
97 – 102
Language
English
Abstract
Strawberries are delicate, prone to damage, and susceptible to water loss, necessitating meticulous quality preservation during distribution and storage.
The market price of fresh strawberries fluctuates significantly throughout the year, making it crucial to optimize storage conditions and adjust shipping schedules to enhance value.
Previous research has established that controlling various post-harvest environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, and packaging, is vital for maintaining strawberry quality.
However, there has been limited research on storage methods at high relative humidity (RH) levels due to challenges in maintaining and measuring such conditions.
This study explores the quality of strawberries after storage in high RH environments, achieved using two types of humidifiers and wet paper towels.
RH levels were maintained at 89% with an evaporative humidifier alone and at 92% with a combination of evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers.
To achieve even higher RH levels (99%), strawberries in plastic packs were wrapped in wet paper towels.
The quality of strawberries post-storage was assessed by measuring relative weight (initially 100% at harvest), sugar content (°Brix), acidity, and the apparent modulus of elasticity.
Results showed that relative weight decreased with storage duration, with strawberries stored at 99% RH maintaining 99% of their weight after 42 days, while those at 92% RH retained only 89% of their weight.
Strawberries at 99% RH also preserved their sugar content, acidity, and elasticity over the 42-day period.
Additionally, weight loss rate correlated with the accumulated vapor pressure deficit of the storage duration.
Notably, strawberries exhibited skin discoloration after 42 days of storage at high RH.
The market price of fresh strawberries fluctuates significantly throughout the year, making it crucial to optimize storage conditions and adjust shipping schedules to enhance value.
Previous research has established that controlling various post-harvest environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, and packaging, is vital for maintaining strawberry quality.
However, there has been limited research on storage methods at high relative humidity (RH) levels due to challenges in maintaining and measuring such conditions.
This study explores the quality of strawberries after storage in high RH environments, achieved using two types of humidifiers and wet paper towels.
RH levels were maintained at 89% with an evaporative humidifier alone and at 92% with a combination of evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers.
To achieve even higher RH levels (99%), strawberries in plastic packs were wrapped in wet paper towels.
The quality of strawberries post-storage was assessed by measuring relative weight (initially 100% at harvest), sugar content (°Brix), acidity, and the apparent modulus of elasticity.
Results showed that relative weight decreased with storage duration, with strawberries stored at 99% RH maintaining 99% of their weight after 42 days, while those at 92% RH retained only 89% of their weight.
Strawberries at 99% RH also preserved their sugar content, acidity, and elasticity over the 42-day period.
Additionally, weight loss rate correlated with the accumulated vapor pressure deficit of the storage duration.
Notably, strawberries exhibited skin discoloration after 42 days of storage at high RH.
Publication
Authors
T. Ishii, T. Jishi, K. Shoji
Keywords
cold storage, fruit quality, humidification, postharvest, semi-conductor sensor
Groups involved
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Working Group Nettings in Horticulture (subgroup of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates)
- Working Group Light in Horticulture
- Working Group Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
- Working Group Vegetable Grafting
- Working Group Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control, Greenhouse Environment
- Working Group Protected Cultivation, Nettings and Screens for Mild Climates
- Working Group Computational Fluid Dynamics in Agriculture
- Working Group Design and Automation in Integrated Indoor Production Systems
- Working Group Mechanization, Digitization, Sensing and Robotics
- Working Group Greenhouse Environment and Climate Control
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Working Group Vertical Farming
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