POLYOLEFIN STRETCH FILMS MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF SWEET CORN DURING STORAGE AND SHELF-LIFE

Sweet corn cobs can be transported for sale in distant markets after b eing sealed in polyvinylchloride (PVC) film to delay quality loss thro ugh the reduction of water loss and shrivelling. However, this package does not prevent decay of the cut ends. Polyolefin films, AM and K-40 0T, were tested as substitutes for PVC as an overwrap for sweet corn p laced on either cardboard (CB) or polystyrene (PS) trays. Increased le vels of CO2 and decreased oxygen atmospheres were generated through th e use of the new films compared with PVC, which reduced decay, and mai ntained quality during 12 days storage at 1 degrees C and two days at 20 degrees C. CB trays were found to be preferable to PS ones.