Hortifresh Nov__December 2012.indd - Hortfresh Journal

Application of ModifiedAtmosphere Packaging forFresh Fruits & Vegetables.Article by Dr. Arnold M. Opiyo Senior Lecturer in HorticultureDept. of Crops, Horticulture & Soils - Egerton UniversityFruits and vegetables areliving, respiring and perishableproducts with activemetabolism even after harvestfrom the parent plant. Nearlyall products are packaged atsome point in their life cycle.When packaging vegetablesand fruits the gas atmosphereof package is not air (O 2– 21%; CO 2 – 0.01%; N 2 –78%) but consists usually ofa lowered level of O 2 and aheightened level of CO 2 . Thiskind of package slows downthe normal respiration of theproduct and so prolongs theshelf life of the product.The key to keeping thesepackaged products freshfor a long duration is toreduce the respiration ratewithout harming the qualityof the product (its taste,texture and appearance). Ingeneral, respiration rate canbe reducucedby keeping thetemperature low, having lowerconcentrations of oxygen inthe packaging atmosphereand increased levels of carbondioxide. However, excessivelyhigh levels of carbon dioxidecan damage some varietiesof products. The storagelife and quality of fruits andvegetables can be extendedby modifying the atmospheresurrounding products. Amodified atmosphere canbe defined as one thattis created by altering thenormal composition of air(21% oxygen and 0.03%carbon dioxide) to providean optimum atmospherefor increasing the storagelength and quality of produce.Modified atmospheres can beachieved by using modifiedatmosphere packaging (MAP).Supermarkets often look forways to package food to helpit stay fresher for longer onthe shelf. New technologysuch as modified atmospherepackaging can provide moreoptions, but it can alsoprovide an environmentfor pathogens to gro w!MODIFIED ATMOSPHEREPACKAGING:Plastic films are widely usedin packaging, and continueto grow in use as more andmore applications switchto flexible packages suchas modified atmospherepackaging (MAP). In thesepackages, plastic films may beused alone or in combinationsto serve the basic packagingfunctions of containment,protection, communicationand utility in the deliveryof quality products tothe consumer. Modifiedatmosphere packaging(MAP) is a packagingtechnique used to extendthe shelf life of fresh food.The types of food storedthis way include vegetables,salad greens, pasta, meat,fruit, cheese, seafood andbakery products, such assandwi cheses. It (MAP) is anNovember- December 201219For rleleadsin Horticulture