Precooling of table grapes on a commercial scale as function of packaging

ABSTRACT Although precooling by forced air is widely used to remove field heat from fresh table grapes, there no knowledge about its use and efficiency. Factors influencing the process include temperature relative humidity, amount initial of fruits, velocity, packaging. The objective this study was evaluate cooling effect efficiency on grapes in two types packages. experimental method randomized blocks, a 2 × 3 factorials, corresponding package (polystyrene cardboard) three heights pallet - lower, middle, upper with four replicates. gradient direction airflow evaluated. There heterogeneity cooling, both vertically horizontally, pallets central zone for directions. None packages suitable fast as showed time 15.5 h; moreover, humidity values were far below ideal value grapes.