INDIVIDUAL FILM WRAPPING OF FLORIDA FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Individual wrapping of fresh fruits and vegetables in heat-shrinkable film has gained widespread interest in the past several years. Many Florida fresh fruits and vegetables have been studied to evaluate their response to a film-wrapped environment. Generally, film wrapping will reduce weight loss, color development and chilling injury; and maintain firmness and internal quality even under optimum storage conditions. At higher-than-optimum storage temperatures, these advantages would generally be more pronounced. Film wrapping has a varied effect on decay development depending on the type of decay organism and the specific produce item. The use of fungicides coated onto films may provide a partial control for some types of decay. Some of the disadvantages of film wrapping include the cost of film and machines for application, line speed for wrapping, impermeability of some films to commodity treatments (fumigation), possible acceleration of decay and development of off-flavors. The advantages of film wrapping for high-quality produce at premium prices generally outweigh the disadvantages.