Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Pre-packaging (consumer size packing)

Pre-packaging is generally defined as packaging the produce in consumer size units either at producing centre before transport or at terminal markets. Packaging of fresh produce in consumer unit packs protects the produce against the damage and excess moisture loss.
The packaging material used should have the following properties

1. Sufficient permeability to oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour
2. Good tensile strength, transparency, heat sealability and printability
3. Desired protective physical properties

Considering above characteristics LDPE film is most widely used for consumer pack. It has got wider temperature range (50-700C) and cheapest
The permeability requirement depends upon rate of respiration of the produce, the package bulk density and storage temperature.
Pre-packing of banana fruits is done in 100 gauge polythene bags under room temperature and cold storage

The gas permeability of package can be controlled by

• Varying either the density of the film
• Varying thickness of the film
• Providing perforation/ventilation to the film

Advantages of pre-packaging of produce

1. Pre- packing in clear plastic bag helps restrict weight loss and acts as a MAP
2. Reduces transportation cost by eliminating unwanted/ inedible portion of produce
3. The space required for shipping and storage is less.
4. It has a better eye appeal as the produce is pre-packed in attractive film and the quality of the produce can be seen from outside without opening the pack.
5. Pre-packaging has quick turnover because of the recent development of automatic machines.
6. It saves labour costs, makes the produce easy to handle and sale.

Disadvantage

1. Consumer sometimes worried about the quality of the pre-packaged items and still opts to select items from an open display (eg. local market, shandy/santhe).
2. Pre packing is restricted to retail malls in cities and other important places of interest.