Post harvest Management of Horticultural Crops (2+1)

Requirement for an ideal package

1. Package should have sufficient mechanical strength to protect the content during handling, transportation and stacking
2. It should be unaffected by moisture content, when wet and high RH for its strength
3. Stabilise and secure product against movement within the package while handling
4. Free from chemicals that could transfer to the produce and taint it or be toxic to the produce or to humans
5. Meet handling & marketing requirement in terms of weight(light), size and shape (rectangle)
6. Allow rapid cooling of the contents, and/or offer degree of insulation from the external heat/cold
7. Utilises the gas barrier (eg. plastic films) with sufficient permeability to respiratory gases as to avoid any risk of anaerobiosis (ventillation) and any bad odour
8. It must be easy to assemble, fill and close either by hand or by use of a simple machine
9. Offer the security for the contents, and /or ease of opening and closing in some marketing situation (eg. promotional activity)
10. Facilitate easy disposal, reuse or recycling
11. It should be easily transported when empty and occupy less space than when full. Eg. Plastic boxes which nest in each other when empty collapsible plastic crates, cardboard boxes, fibre or paper or plastic sacks and.
12. Package must be readily available.