Suspended Tray Package for Protecting Soft Fruit from Mechanical Damage

Abstract

A new suspended fruit packaging system for damage-free transport of soft fruit was developed and laboratory tested. Transit vibration tests simulating a continental U.S. cross-country trip of approximately 4,500 km showed that this suspended fruit system prevents nearly all transport vibration damage to pears when used with a plastic clamshell package and to avocados when used with a plastic clamshell or corrugated fiberboard master container. Comparative damage data are reported for simulated shipment (using American Standards Testing Materials D4169-94 assurance level I) of Hass avocados and Bartlett pears ripened to varying firmness levels.