Improving shelf-life by distributing tomatoes in pallets with MAP

Exportation of goods by ground transport is, nowadays, increasing a lot due to lower cost and lower impact on the environment than other types of transportation. Fruit and vegetable products, due to their perishable nature, require a fast and flexible transport to keep the cold chain as well as qualitative and quantitative properties of food. Packaging a loaded pallet with modified atmosphere during transport could increase shelf - life in the course of the distribution process, reducing weight loss and preserving sensorial and chemical properties. Additionally, when the pallet arrives at destination and the packaging material is removed, the residual effects of the modified atmosphere may include decreased respiration and improved maintenance of color and firmness at the point of sale.The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of packaging pallets, loaded with horticultural products, with modified atmosphere and to check the effect of this technology on the sensorial and physico - chemical properties of the products after a simulated transport period. The gas mixture employed for the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was 5% O2: 5% CO2:90% N2 and was compared with pallets without packaging (air). During 14 days tomatoes were kept in pallets at refrigerated conditions, and different parameters were evaluated: headspace composition, hardness, pH and color. The results show that modified atmosphere packaging has a clear positive impact on the preservation of firmness and color of tomatoes, prolonging their shelf - life of the respect the products preserved with air. Thus MAP of pallets with fresh vegetables could be a good technology to maintain products quality during refrigerated long distances transport. SourcesGuri, S.1,2(*), Vega, L.F.1,2, Romero, L.1 and Pons, M.J.2guribas@carburos.com1 Carburos Met?licos ? Air Products Group. C/ Arag?n, 300, 08009, Barcelona, Spain2 MatGas Research Center, Campus de la Universitat Aut?noma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona), SpainCA MA 2013, XI International Controlled & Modified Atmosphere Research Conference, Trani ?(Italy), 3-7 June 2013, http://www.cama2013.org/The first picture belongs to the trial and was kindly provided by Sonia Guri; the 2nd picture shows the control panel of the Palicontrol system by Absoger Key wordsPoscosecha?? ?postcosecha?? ?postharvest?? ?na-oes?? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ?post-r?colte?? ????? ?? ??????????? ??? ?na-oogst?? ?post-raccolta?? ?Obr?bka po?? ?p?s-colheita?? ????????????????? ?hasat sonras??? ??? ?Ernte?? ????????????????? ????? ????????????? ?postcollita?? ?poskliz?ov頠 ????? ??? ??? ??? ?nakon branja?? ?pozberov頠 ??? ?obdelovanje zemlje po?? ?post-colleita?? ?????? ??????? ?pascapanen?? ??il?onn postharvest?? ??????? ?p?c ra?as?? ?derliaus apdirbimas po?? ?lepas tuai?? ??? ?? ???????? ?post-recoltare?? ??????? ??????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?sau thu ho?ch?? ?????????????????? ?zangemva kwenkathi yokuvuna?? ??? ?Tomate?? ??? ?tomato?? ?tamatie?? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?tomaat?? ?pomodoro?? ?pomidor?? ??? ?????????? ?domates?? ???????? ?? ?