ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Abstract. When considering post-harvest loss of fresh produce items, retail waste accounts for a significant portion of the total. Anecdotal evidence was presented to the authors that suggested increased airflow over unrefrigerated produce displays decreased the loss rate of those items. A field study was undertaken to investigate the effects of airflow in real-world retail situations against biochemical and environmental mechanisms known to influence produce shelf life. These mechanisms included microenvironmental temperature, moisture, ethylene concentration, and condensation potential. Measurements were recorded in a retail settings during four consecutive weeks at two locations which had dissimilar climates. High volume large diameter (HVLD) fans were alternated on and off every week. It was found that increased airflow over fresh produce in unrefrigerated display areas causes significant decreases in ethylene concentration, shortened condensation residence times, and disbursement of near produce moisture buildup. It was also observed that special considerations must be made to prevent undesirable interference with air-curtain refrigerated cases. Given the results of these experiments, it is likely that HVLD fans modify the environment of produce in the display environment in a manner that is beneficial to shelf-life.