Comprehensive investigation of corrugated fiberboard boxes with edge vents for ambient loading of Chinese cabbage: Part Ⅱ – Quality changes in cellulose paper- and LLDPE film-wrapped Chinese cabbage stored in ventilated corrugated fiberboard boxes

Abstract

Consumption of fresh produce has increased in recent years, as have the post-harvest losses during produce distribution. This has generated a need for optimum post-harvest treatment to increase the longevity of the produce. In this study, the temperature and relative humidity for the storage test were set as the refrigerated container conditions (ambient loading) and the quality change in Chinese cabbage wrapped with a cellulose paper sheet or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) film in ventilated corrugated fiberboard boxes was evaluated. Weight loss, trimming loss, total soluble solid, pH, firmness, and color were measured every 10 d from 0 to 30 d. The weight loss values of Chinese cabbage wrapped with cellulose paper and LLDPE film at 30 d were approximately 3.7–4.4% and less than 1%, respectively. The trimming loss and firmness of Chinese cabbage wrapped with an LLDPE film were significantly better than those wrapped with a cellulose paper sheet at 30 d. However, the outer leaf surface measured by color meter was more damaged in Chinese cabbage wrapped with the LLDPE film than in those wrapped with the cellulose paper sheet because the wrapping of the former was tighter than that of the latter. In addition, the reduction in the mechanical properties of the boxes with 0%, 2%, and 3% of vent hole area against the horizontal cross section containing Chinese cabbage was measured at 0 and 30 d by performing not only mechanical property tests, such as edge crush test, bursting strength test, and box compression strength test, but also data logging of relative humidity in the headspace of each box. The relative humidity in the headspace of each box was constant at 75 ± 5% after the first increase during 0–24 h. Further, we evaluated the results of the box compression strength test at 30 d, comparing them with the required box compression strengths calculated by the equations provided in the criteria of the Fibre Box Association and American Society for Testing and Materials D4619. Thus, our findings can explain the changes in the quality of Chinese cabbage and the mechanical properties of corrugated fiberboard boxes prepared using two different internal package treatments.