Quality Evaluation of Fruits and Vegetables in Mixed Cargo Exported by Sea

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clarify the effects on quality when exporting small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables by mixed loading. When exporting small amounts of multiple varieties of fruits and vegetables, it is essential to reduce transport costs by using reefer containers for mixed cargo. A lot of research has been conducted on the distribution and storage technology of fruits and vegetables. However, conditions and techniques have primarily been examined only for single items, and research on transporting mixed cargo has not been done. In this study, we used a new reefer container with only marginal internal temperature variability (set to 0°C), and exported fruits and vegetables by sea as a mixed cargo. Subsequently, the fruits and vegetables exported by sea were compared by sensory evaluation with those exported by air. Satsuma mandarins, onions, salad onions, Welsh onion leaf blades, and lettuces were almost the same quality when shipped by sea as by air without any specific treatment. Other items such as tatsois and Welsh onion stems required film, plastic bags, and other packaging to reduce fresh weight loss when exporting by sea. These results suggest that fruits and vegetables can be exported by sea with similar quality to that by air. However, it is necessary to consider the storage temperature, packaging material and conditions, and item selection.

Alleviation of Fruit Decay During the Export and Domestic Storage of Satsuma Mandarin Fruit Through Temperature Treatment and Ultraviolet-C Irradiation via Phytoalexin Production

“…However, the symptoms of chilling injury (pitting) were not observed during transportation in the present study. In the present study, uneven temperatures were not likely to have occurred in containers, and supercooling did not occur because the containers used had two compressors and two inverters that minimized internal temperature variations; the difference in temperature was ± 0.5°C, as in a previous report (Ikegaya et al, 2019). Ikegaya et al (2019) showed that loading satsuma mandarin Aoshima unshu (late maturing cultivar) in a container with other vegetables exported to Singapore by sea for 19 days using a reefer container under low temperatures (0°C) conditions similar to those adopted in the present study did not alter fruit taste based on sensory evaluation.…”

Ingenuity in packaging maintains the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables in mixed cargo exported by sea

“…In a previous study, we exported sweet potatoes under very similar conditions and observed several individuals with chilling injury-associated abnormalities. 5 It has been reported that chilling injury frequently occurs at temperatures below 5 C. 29 The differences between this study and previous studies are the variety, the region, and the season in which the tests were conducted. It was suggested that the susceptibility of sweet potato to low temperature may vary depending on conditions and varieties.…”

“…The assessors were not given any specific training on food assessment. Assessors compared the two samples and selected the one that ‘looked fresher’ from the appearance 5 . To evaluate fruits, the assessors were provided with three fruits each of Japanese pears, peaches, Japanese plums, melons, and tomatoes and three bunches of grapes.…”

“…Assessors compared the two samples and selected the one that 'looked fresher' from the appearance. 5 To evaluate fruits, the assessors were provided with three fruits each of Japanese pears, peaches, Japanese plums, melons, and tomatoes and three bunches of grapes. These were selected in order from the weight reduction rate close to the average value as standard quality.…”

“…4 In our previous study, we exported fresh fruits and vegetables from Japan to Singapore by air and by sea in mixed cargo. 5 The export test by sea was conducted in a high-performance reefer container set at 0 C, which maintained a sufficient quality of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, the produce quality was inferior to that assessed with air transportation and takes much longer.…”