Quality of Modified Atmosphere Packaged “bartlett” Pears as Influenced by Time and Type of Storage

Commercially mature “Bartlett” pears for this study were obtained from local commercial packing facilities. In the first year, pears were packed in modified atmosphere bags and placed in boxes or packed normally (control) with an individual paper wrap around each pear plus a polyethylene liner in the box. Boxed pears from both types of packaging were stored in regular atmosphere (RA) storage at 1C for 30 or 90 days. In the second year, pears were packed normally and stored in both RA or controlled atmosphere (CA) storage for 45 or 90 days, or packed in modified atmosphere bags and stored in RA at 1C. After 45 days, normally packed pears from both RA and CA were removed from their initial storage, placed in modified atmosphere bags and returned to RA storage for an additional 45 days. Pears stored in modified atmosphere bags were superior in quality to normally packed pears stored only in RA storage and equal in quality to pears stored in CA for periods of 90 days. The quality of pears held in modified atmosphere bags under CA conditions deteriorated after only short periods of time (<45 days). Pears in modified atmosphere bags should be stored only in RA. Little or no quality advantage was evident if use of modified atmosphere bags was delayed regardless of prior storage type. Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKJFPPJournal of Food Processing and Preservation0145-8892Copyright 2004 by Food & Nutrition Press, Inc., Trumbull, Connecticut.285348358Original Article MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING OF “BARTLETT” PEARS S.R. DRAKE