Consolidated cold and modified atmosphere package system for fresh strawberry supply chains

Temperature and gas composition control is essential for maintaining the fresh flavor and quality of perishable fruits. This study presented a design of consolidated cold and modified atmosphere package (MAP) system for fresh fruits by showing the potential benefits of a low-tech and low-cost approach to cold chain adoption. The effectiveness of insulated expanded polystyrene (EPS) box installed with phase change materials (PCM) and equipped with MAP on maintaining quality of fresh strawberries was reported. Real-time changes of gas composition, temperature and relative humidity inside packages, weight loss, total soluble solids, color, texture, respiration rate, electrical conductivity, and general appearance of strawberries were determined during the storage in successive harvests of Dec 2017 and Apr 2018. Loss of fruit weight and electrical conductivity were higher in the control strawberries comparing with packaged fruits. The consolidated package system had significant effect on maintaining firmness, color, total soluble solids, global appearance, respiration rate of strawberries for all attributes. Results of this study confirmed that this innovative approach to cold chain design had the potential use in express delivery of strawberry fruits when the ambient temperatures were not well controlled.