ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 23.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 569 23.2 Flavor Quality of Fruits and Vegetables ...................................................................... 570 23.3 Maintaining the MA Chain ............................................................................................ 571 23.4 Combined Effects of MA and 1-MCP........................................................................... 572 23.5 MA for Decay and Insect Control ................................................................................. 572 23.6 MA and Food Safety Considerations............................................................................ 573 23.7 Biological Bases of MA Effects....................................................................................... 573 23.8 Return on Investment of MA......................................................................................... 573 23.9 Summary........................................................................................................................... 574 References.................................................................................................................................... 574
This chapter is an update of my presentation on future research needs at the Ninth International Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference held at Michigan State University in July 2005. The use of polymeric films for packaging produce and their application in modified
atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems at the pallet, shipping container (plastic liner), and consumer package levels continues to increase (Al-Ati and Hotchkiss, 2003; Beaudry, 2000; Fonseca et al., 2000; Kader and Watkins, 2000; Lang, 2000; Watkins, 2000). MAP is widely used in extending the shelf life of fresh-cut vegetable and fruit products (SolivaFortuny and Martin-Belloso, 2003). Use of absorbers of ethylene, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and=or water vapor as part of MAP is increasing. Saltveit (2003) concluded that truly significant advances in the use of controlled atmosphere (CA) and modified atmosphere (MA) may require the development of mathematical models that incorporate some measure of the commodity’s dynamic response to the storage environment. These measurements should reflect the commodity’s changing response to various storage parameters (e.g., a shifting anaerobic compensation point), and should be useful in predicting future changes in quality. Although much research has been done on use of surface coatings to modify the internal
atmosphere within the commodity, commercial applications are still very limited due to the variability of the commodity’s gas diffusion characteristics and the stability and thickness of the coating (Amarante and Banks, 2001; Hagenmaier, 2005; Schotsmans et al., 2003).
