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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154154
Title: QUALITY OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGED 'BARTLETT' PEARS AS INFLUENCED BY TIME AND TYPE OF STORAGE

Author
item Drake, Stephen
item ELFVING, D. - WSU, WENATCHEE, WA
item DRAKE, S. - NORTH CAROLINA UNIV.
item VISSER, D. - WSU, WENATCHEE, WA

Submitted to: Journal of Food Processing and Preservation Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Drake, S.R., Elfving, D.C., Drake, S.L., Visser, D. 2004. Quality of modified atmosphere packaged 'bartlett' pears as influenced by time and type of storage. Journal of Food Preservation. 28:348-358.

Interpretive Summary: Use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has yielded multiple benefits (extended shelf-life, enhanced appearance, retention of color and flavor), particularly for fruits and vegetables that have limited shelf-life. Influence of MAP on quality of fruit with naturally longer shelf-life has been variable. 'Bartlett' pears are normally stored for 45 days in regular atmosphere storage or 90 days in controlled atmosphere storage. Can MAP be used in conjunction with either regular or controlled atmosphere storage for quality enhancement of 'Bartlett' pears? 'Bartlett' pears stored in modified atmosphere bags were superior in quality to normally packed pears stored only in regular atmosphere storage and equal in quality to pears stored in controlled atmosphere storage. 'Bartlett' pears in modified atmosphere bags should be stored in regular atmosphere storage only and never in controlled atmosphere. Quality of 'Bartlett' pears in modified atmosphere bags stored under controlled atmosphere conditions deteriorates after only short periods of time (45 days). To maintain quality 'Bartlett' pears should be placed in MAP shortly after harvest. Delay in the use of MAP does nothing to maintain quality regardless of storage condition.

Technical Abstract: Commercially mature 'Bartlett' pears for this study were obtained from local commercial packing facilities (Blue Bird, Inc., Peshastin, WA and Blue Star, Inc., Cashmere, WA). In one study (Blue Star, Inc.), pears were packed in modified atmosphere bags and placed in boxes or packed normally with an individual paper wrap around each pear plus a polyethylene liner in the box. Boxed pears from both types of packaging were stored in regular atmosphere (RA) storage at 1 deg C for 30 or 90 days. In a second study (Blue Bird, Inc.), pears were normally packed and stored in both RA or controlled atmosphere (CA) storage for 45 or 90 days, or packed in modified atmosphere bags and stored in RA at 12 deg C. After 45 days, normally packed pears from both RA and CA were removed from storage, placed in modified atmosphere bags and returned to RA storage for an additional 45 days. Pears stored in modified atmosphere bags were superior in quality to normally packed pears stored only in RA storage and equal in quality to pears stored in CA for periods of 90 days. Quality of pears held in modified atmosphere bags under CA conditions deteriorates after only short periods of time (<45 days). Pears in modified atmosphere bags should be stored only in RA. Little or no quality advantage was evident if use of modified atmosphere bags were delayed regardless of prior storage type.