Lowbush blueberry quality changes in response to prepacking delays and holding temperatures

The quality of stored wild lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait . and V. myrtilloides Michx.) was examined with different prepacking temper atures (5, 12, 19, and 26 degrees C), delay times (3, 9, 21, and 45 h), and subsequent storage times (7, 14, and 21 d) at 0 degrees C. All factors wer e considered both individually and in combination. Quality after storage wa s defined by changes in ten attributes: split berries, bloom, firmness, wei ght loss, moisture, soluble solids, titratable acids, pH, microbial counts, and marketable berries. We concluded that when there is minimal impact dam age during packing and berries are stored at 0 degrees C, cooling before pa cking is beneficial only when the delay time exceeds 21 h. Precooling creat es severe condensation problems during the subsequent packing at ambient te mperatures. Minimizing delays is the best option for maximizing fresh lowbu sh blueberry quality. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.