Alternative packaging for a strawberry supply chain

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate and select the most suitable films capable of increasing the post-harvest life of the strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) maintaining quality, without economic alteration in the current productive chain. In the first test (EXP1) 9 different methods of packaging were tested: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tray with perforated lid (Control) and the other were the PET tray coated with 8 different types of films. In the second experiment (EXP2), the best modalities selected in the EXP1, corresponding to the films chosen were those used for the conservation of strawberries of the Oso Grande cultivar. In EXP1, fruits packed in polypropylene (PP) films with 0.006 mm and D955 with 0.019 mm thickness presented the highest scores regarding the overall aspect, however strawberries packed with PP of 0.006 mm presented a high acetaldehyde and ethanol contents resulting in the presence of alcoholic odor. At EXP2, strawberries packed in D955 film 0.019 mm thickness and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 0.020 mm presented good appearance until day 8, maintained quality and presented low occurrence of diseases when compared with the other films. The PVC 0.020 mm thickness proves to be an alternative for producers that already use this type of film with a lower thickness.