Articles
PROBLEMS IN SHIPPING FRESH HAWAIIAN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS
Article number
57_19
Pages
151 – 162
Language
Abstract
The shipment of fresh fruits from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland and elsewhere has increased during the past years, and projections indicate continuous increases in the future at the current rate of growth of the fresh fruit industry.
However, this business has been beset by problems ever since Hawaii initiated shipping fresh commodities.
Since the fruit flies and mango seed weevil will probably exist here for a long time, if not forever, all export fruits, except pineapple, must be disinfested for export now and in the foreseeable future.
Some fruits must be given special postharvest treatments, such as the hot water treatment for the control of storage decay in papaya, in addition to the disinfestation treatment prior to shipping.
For fruits shipped by sea, proper storage conditions consisting of factors, such as temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric composition, must be maintained in order to maintain the shelf life of the commodity.
Also any detrimental effects of refrigeration must be overcomed by additional treatments, such as the control of Endogenous Brown Spot in pineapple with heat.
The possibility of the commonly used fumigant, ethylene dibromide, being eliminated as a disinfestation agent because of concern over levels of toxic residues on the commodity, is a concern to shippers, because the commodities may not tolerate the substitute treatments as well as the present one.
The accelerating cost of air shipment is another concern of shippers who are using this method of shipping rather than the less expensive method of shipping by sea which has the distinct disadvantage of the long transit period which is undesirable for highly perishable fruits.
These and other problems associated with shipping are more specifically presented in the discussion of individual fruits.
However, this business has been beset by problems ever since Hawaii initiated shipping fresh commodities.
Since the fruit flies and mango seed weevil will probably exist here for a long time, if not forever, all export fruits, except pineapple, must be disinfested for export now and in the foreseeable future.
Some fruits must be given special postharvest treatments, such as the hot water treatment for the control of storage decay in papaya, in addition to the disinfestation treatment prior to shipping.
For fruits shipped by sea, proper storage conditions consisting of factors, such as temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric composition, must be maintained in order to maintain the shelf life of the commodity.
Also any detrimental effects of refrigeration must be overcomed by additional treatments, such as the control of Endogenous Brown Spot in pineapple with heat.
The possibility of the commonly used fumigant, ethylene dibromide, being eliminated as a disinfestation agent because of concern over levels of toxic residues on the commodity, is a concern to shippers, because the commodities may not tolerate the substitute treatments as well as the present one.
The accelerating cost of air shipment is another concern of shippers who are using this method of shipping rather than the less expensive method of shipping by sea which has the distinct disadvantage of the long transit period which is undesirable for highly perishable fruits.
These and other problems associated with shipping are more specifically presented in the discussion of individual fruits.
Authors
Ernest K. Akamine
Keywords
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