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Cool Chain research could lead to better berries
[ May 9, 2023 // Chris Lewis ]The Cool Chain Association (CCA) says that its second tracking trial of perishables undertaken by its member the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) has identified significant areas where action can be taken to reduce food loss.
PPECB tracked consignments of raspberries, which have a very low shelf life, from South Africa to the UK to identify pain points in the cool supply chain in order to develop best handling practices for perishables. Raspberries can be transported by air, but their delicate nature makes them prone to damage en route.
The results suggest that the cut-to-cool time, taken to bring the berries down to a temperature of around 5 ̊C, should be reduced to within 60 minutes of harvest to better maintain berry quality during storage.
The trial also indicated that a lower air temperature of 0 ̊C rather than the current 2 ̊C should be used for blast cooling.
PPECB general manager and CCA board member Vijan Chetty said that around 30% of all berry exports from South Africa to market have quality defects, adding: “We need further research and trials into how handling practices can be optimised.”
Temperature fluctuations in the packhouse, in flight, and at the destination handling facility, while unavoidable, should be significantly reduced in duration to further minimise the incidence of quality defects.
Future research will see timed temperature tolerance trials performed to determine the duration of exposure to a particular temperature beyond which berry quality and shelf life are compromised.
Additional investigation to measure the internal temperature of the fruit, which changes more rapidly than external air temperature, may also be conducted, as well as deeper research into handling protocol upon arrival.
In March, the CCA was involved in a similar perishables study with the PPECB, monitoring the farm-to-table export of cut flowers from South Africa to Europe.
Tags: Cool Chain Association