Packaging Materials for Transportation of Fresh Fig Fruits. Fig (Ficus carica L.)

      Аннотация: Fig is a nutritious fruit, rich in fibre, potassium, calcium and iron with higher levels than other common fruits. Protection of fig fruit quality in the chain from harvesting to marketing is very important. Vibration often causes some damages to perishable fruits in transportation and reduces their quality. The fruit injury due to vibration is related to the transportation characteristics of vehicles, packaging boxes and condition of the road. The shrinkage of fresh fruits and vegetables, due to mechanical injury in the distribution chain between the grower and consumer, is reportedly estimated at around 30 to 40%. Lack of information on post-harvest handling of fig fruits has resulted in huge losses to the tune of 20 to 30 % to the farmers and traders thereby making the fig production uneconomical. In this context, an attempt is made to provide information for identifying a suitable packaging material that protects fresh figs against mechanical injuries during post-harvest handling, transportation and storage.

Ключевые слова: packaging, Fresh Fig Fruit, transportation Losses