THE USE OF IT'SFRESH! ETHYLENE ADSORPTION PADS TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE BREAKS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

It’sFresh! ethylene adsorption active “e+^TM” is in commercial use, being contained within a hydrophobic and breathable pad, and used on a number of products including strawberries. No treatment can completely replace correct temperature management with fresh produce, but the potential of It’sFresh! pads has been evaluated in a trial mimicking a temperature break in the supply chain for strawberries.
Fruit were harvested and packed commercially and sent through the standard cool chain before having a break for 24 h at 18-22°C and then being placed in a cold store set at 6-7°C. The trial was carried out with 100 punnets per week of two cultivars with 100 punnets with the pads placed in at harvest and 100 punnets without the pads for a 12-week period. Five punnets of each cultivar, with and without the pads, were assessed each day until 50% of the berries in all treatments were considered to have rot or mould. The punnets with the pads were found to have approximately two days more shelf life than those without.