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Cooling and CA
Evaluation of fruit shrinkage in apple and pear storage
Laia Torregrosa, Ilerfred, explained during last CAMA 2025 Congress the results obtained with an experimental device for continuous measurement of fruit diameter; it shows the importance of keeping an adecuate relative humidity level in apple storage to avoid shrinking , specially intense in small pieces
Controlled atmosphere (CA) technology is essential for preserving fruit quality and extending shelf life during cold storage.
An experimental device was developed and tested for the continuous measurement of fruit diameter shrinkage, fruit settlement within a storage container, and mass loss throughout the storage period in ‘Golden’ apples and ‘Conference’ pears under CA conditions.
Results
Results indicate that individual fruit diameter exhibited progressive shrinkage, which was inversely correlated with relative humidity (RH) levels in the storage environment.
Smaller apples demonstrated greater relative diameter shrinkage (up to 2.5%) compared to larger counterparts (1%), likely due to their higher surface-to-volume ratio.
Increasing the RH set point from 90% to 95% significantly mitigated shrinkage rates, emphasizing the critical role of precise humidity regulation.
Las disminución de peso por deshidratación durante el almacenamiento significa importantes pérdidas en volumen de producto comercializables
Importance of optimizing RH settings in CA storage
The settlement of the entire mass of pome fruit within a container during long-term cold storage was measured using an ultrasound sensor.
Across all tested conditions, including different fruit types and seasonal variations, a quasi-linear relationship was observed between mass loss and mass settlement throughout the storage period.
Variations in cold room RH levels directly affected the rate of mass loss, further highlighting the impact of humidity control on fruit preservation.
These findings highlight the importance of optimizing RH settings in CA storage to minimize fruit shrinkage and weight loss, thereby enhancing postharvest quality and reducing economic losses.
Additionally, fruit mass settlement can serve as an indirect indicator of moisture loss, providing a potential method for real-time RH monitoring in cold storage environments.
Source
Impact of Controlled Atmosphere Conditions on Shrinkage, Weight Loss, and Mass Settlement in Stored Pome Fruits
Laia Torregrosa, Ilerfred, & Josep Illa, UdLl
CAMA 2025, XIV International Conference on Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research, held in Wenatchee, Washington, USA, May 18-22, 2025, https://cama2025.com
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