Co-Authors:
Rodov, V., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Copel, A., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Aharoni, N., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Aharoni, Y., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Wiseblum, A., Inst. of Agricultural Engineering, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Horev, B., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Vinokur, Y., Department of Postharvest Science, Agric. Res. Organisation - V., Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Retail packages of sweet corn (film-wrapped trays containing a pair of trimmed cobs) were stored at 2°C within additional plastic liners. The modified atmosphere (MA), generated in these nested packages by corn respiration, complied with the recommended range of 5-10 kPa CO2 and inhibited mold growth. Opening the liner after transfer to non-refrigerated conditions compensated for the respiration rise caused by elevated temperature, maintained the desirable MA range and prevented fermentation and off-flavor development. The produce kept for 2 weeks at 2°C within nested packages, and for 4 additional days at 20°C, and combined relatively low microbial spoilage with acceptable organoleptic quality, provided the liners were open at 20°C. The method was successfully tested during a trial shipment of sweet corn from Israel to Europe. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.