DESIGN OF RIGID MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGES FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

A procedure was developed for designing rigid MA packages for fresh fr uits and vegetables that takes into account the change in total pressu re inside the package. The procedure was demonstrated by designing a p ackage for kiwifruit using available data. Some practical consideratio ns in designing MA packages such as time to reach steady-state conditi ons, variation in respiration rate, film permeability, and changes in temperature were included. Small deviations in respiration rate and pe rmeability could lead to large variations in steady-state gas concentr ations.