Abstract
Shipments of floral products to Pacific rim markets must meet stringent pest-free requirements. Conventional fumigation methods with methyl bromide will soon become unavailable. Studies show that controlled atmosphere (CA) environments can offer effective insect control. Currently, CA overseas marine shipping is occuring with fresh fruits and vegetables. These shipments use microprocessors to precisely control O2, CO2, temperature and relative humidity. This study is evaluating similar commercial shipments with fresh flowers and foliage under low temperature and low O2 and high CO2 atmospheres. Preliminary results with shipments conducted by TransFresh to Guam indicate that properly maintained CA shipments of 0.5 % O2 kill insects and that flowers in properly maintained atmospheres can withstand 14 days of marine shipment with minimum effect on post-harvest life. Adequate regulation of CA storage during transit seems to be the primary limitation to the expansion of floral markets using this method of shipment.
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