Plastic film bags on the refrigeration of table grapes

Abstract

Refrigeration is the most effective method for storing fruit, important in controlling humidity and gas concentration in order to allow a greater conservation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of different plastic film bags on cooling table grapes. Were evaluated three types of plastic film bags in three palletizing levels during rapid cooling and storage, and its influences on temperature, cooling time, relative humidity, weight loss and berry abscission. The temperature and relative humidity was influenced by the type of plastic film bags and palletization levels in rapid-cooling chamber. The non-perforated plastic film bag and the intermediate level provided the highest temperature values, 4.0 and 5.13 °C, respectively. The non-perforated plastic film bag and the superior level had the highest relative humidity values, 89.48 and 85.56%, respectively. The non-perforated plastic film bag needed a longer cooling time. The micro perforated plastic film bag associated with the intermediate level had the lowest berry abscission (0.43%). The non-perforated plastic film bag had the least weight loss, 4.84%. Therefore, the non-perforated plastic film bag allows for a better conservation of the table grape during the cold-chamber cooling.