VOLUME 2, 2007-08 

   Contents and Abstracts

CONTENTS (September 2007, Volume 2/Number 1)

Research

Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh-Cut Produce with Microperforated Films

AYMAN ABDELLATIEF and BRUCE A WELT

Using the C-e Pairs to Develop Conventional Cushion Curves and

Cushioning Specifications

CHANGFENG GE, DANIEL GOODWIN and DENNIS YOUNG

Development of Wholesale Packaging to Prevent Post-Harvest Damage to Rose Apples

BUNDIT JARIMOPAS, SIAM TOOMSAENGTONG, SHER PAUL SINGH, JAY SINGH and RANGSINEE SOTHORNVIT

Measurement and Analysis of the Shocks Generated During Egg Production

JAY SINGH, CHRIS FERRIER and PAUL SINGH

ARTICLE ABSTRACTS (September 2007, Volume 2/Number 1)

Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh-Cut Produce with Microperforated Films

AYMAN ABDELLATIEF and BRUCE A WELT

ABSTRACT: Application of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to fresh cut produce is challenging due to high respiration rate requirements. Perforations are being increasingly used when gas permeation rates of packaging films do not meet respiration requirements. Microperforations add value to film without significant increase in cost. Produce suppliers should validate MAP designs to verify necessity of perforations for fresh-cut produce. The objective of this project was to verify MAP designs and justifications for microperforations for five commercially available fresh-cut products including rutabaga, sweet potato, yellow squash, a 50/50 blend of yellow squash and zucchini and turnip. Experiments involved determination of product respiration rates and packaging film oxygen transmission rates (OTR). Respiration rates were determined using an unsteady-state method in temperature controlled chambers at 1, 8 and 15°C. OTRs were determined at 15, 23 and 35°C using a commercial OTR analyzer. Target respiration rates were determined from functions representing derivatives of curves fitted to changes in headspace versus time. Changes in headspace oxygen were described by a hyperbolic decay curve, while production of CO₂ was described by a hyperbolic curve. Temperature sensitivities of respiration rates and OTR were estimated using the Arrhenius relationship. Results suggest that non-perforated films with OTRs of 3000, 6000, 1500, 1500 and 1500cc O₂/N₂.day would satisfy MAP requirements for rutabaga, sweet potato, yellow squash, a 50/50 blend of yellow squash and zucchini and turnip, respectively. Therefore, microperforations were probably justified for only fresh-cut sweet potato.

Using the C-e Pairs to Develop Conventional Cushion Curves and

Cushioning Specifications

CHANGFENG GE, DANIEL GOODWIN and DENNIS YOUNG

ABSTRACT: Cushion curves are commonly used to design protective packaging, but their use is primarily limited to the selection of cushion thickness and load bearing area. Generating the curves also requires significant time and testing resources. This paper reviewed the theoretical basis of the conventional cushion curves and explores the relationship between cushion curves and a parent curve, which is based on the C-e curve (Cushion factor (C)-Impact absorption capacity (e) curve). The notion of using C-e pairs to generate cushion curves with any desired cushion thickness/drop height is introduced, based on a single master cushion curve with a limited number of measured G-values and Static Stresses. We recommend that instead of generating a set of cushion curves, only a master cushion curve representing different real world scenarios should be provided to packaging designers. This simple method is different that the methods based on energy- stress methods in its simple and practical way in developing a master cushion curve. In addition, the paper recommends the use of the C-e parent curve as a replacement for conventional cushion curves for designing protective packaging.

Development of Wholesale Packaging to Prevent Post-Harvest Damage to Rose Apples

BUNDIT JARIMOPAS, SIAM TOOMSAENGTONG, SHER PAUL SINGH, JAY SINGH and RANGSINEE SOTHORNVIT

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research was to determine post-harvest damage to rose apples due to transportation hazards and to comparatively evaluate the performance of the current and proposed wholesale packaging for the fruit. The methodology comprised of sampling and conducting damage analysis of rose apples of two varieties (Thongsamsri and Toonklao) distributed using commercial packaging to various retailers and wholesalers selected at random around the Bangkok metropolitan areas. Three kinds of current wholesale packaging were packed with newly harvested, damage-free, and uniform sized Thongsamsri rose apples and tested using a vibration simulator. The same testing was performed for the two types of proposed wholesale packaging. Performance of both types of packaging was evaluated in terms of damage parameters. Results showed that the post-harvest damage was mainly in the form of bruising and abrasion. The average fruit damage and the average damage percentage of abrasion were higher than that of bruising at both the wholesaler and retailer levels. The average fruit damage and the average damage percentages at the retailer were greater than that at the wholesaler for both varieties. Majority of the damage seen in the current packaging was a combination of bruising and abrasion. The proposed packaging uses diagonally horizontal fruit orientation which imparts a minimum bruising with negligible abrasion.

Measurement and Analysis of the Shocks Generated During Egg Production

JAY SINGH, CHRIS FERRIER and PAUL SINGH

ABSTRACT: In their journey from the laying cage to shipments out of an egg production operation, table eggs encounter multiple shock events. While all agricultural commodities run the possibility of damage during the course of production, shell eggs are particularly susceptible to being cracked or broken during the production operation. A typical egg production facility experiences 2% to 7% checks (a partial mechanical failure to the egg shell) during handling, packaging and transportation of shell eggs. It has been estimated that the total losses to the U.S. egg industry due to checks and breakage of eggs during production amounts to over $247 million per year. Research was conducted using a data recorder at Cal Poly Eggs (San Luis Obispo, California) to evaluate shocks sustained by the eggs going through the production operation. The production line for this operation resembles a typical commercial egg production facility. This study evaluated shock levels sustained by the eggs going through a typical production operation. The results and recommendations to help decrease damage due to shocks are presented in this paper. This data can be used to improve production lines at any egg production facility to decrease the amount of checks or breakage and to increase the profits.