Protection against mechanical damages and light
The type of packaging has a great effect on preserving quality of fresh produce. It serves as an extra skin, it can bring the product to sleep, it can prevent mechanical damage and it can protect against light. On this page you will learn more about the ways how packaging can protect against mechanical damage and light.
Protection against mechanical damage
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Various types protective pads to be used in packages. Photo by WUR. Padding materials
Padding is used to protect the fruit or vegetable against vibration during transport and to absorb product fluid that may be released. -
Empty space in a box with packed tomatoes can lead to shifts and damage. Photo by WUR. Fit the amount of produce to dimensions
When fruit are missing or a non- uniform in size, they can move inside the box and mechanical damages can happen. -
Papaya protected with a polystyrene net. Photo by WUR Polystyrene nets
A polystyrene net can protect product from damaging each other during transport. The need for this depends on the origin of the product and type of product.
Protection against light
Light can also be a problem for storage of fruit and vegetables and flowers or plants. Chicory and potatoes are vegetables that are sensitive to light storage. Under light, many plant products will produce green pigment, for instance chlorophyll, which can affect the visual quality or the taste of the product. In some cases also toxic compounds may be produced.
Examples of protection against light or dark
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An extra protective cover is used to reduce light levels and prevent greening of chicory. Photo by WUR Reducing light levels
Packaging can help to reduce the amount of light receive by the product, think about the blue paper covering chicory tray. Some plastic foils can also filter some light wavelength, or reduce the amount of light going through the foil (think about print cover than reduce the amount of light going through the product). -
MA -packaging can help to reduce light sensitivity of the potatoes. Photo by WUR. Reducing light sensitivity
MA packaging can also help to reduce the light sensitivity of certain product. A kilo potato bag develops a low oxygen and rich CO2 gas conditions inside bag. Potato under this storage condition are less sensitive to green discoloration.