Quality changes in organic tomatoes packaged in biodegradable plastic films

Quality changes in organic tomatoes stored in four biodegradable packages a nd in LDPE-bags at 11 +/- 1C and 75-85% RH were studied for three weeks. Or ganic tomatoes were packed in perforated LDPE-bags and the following biodeg radable packages: a perforated Mater-Bi-(R)-bag, a Biopol((R))-coated paper board tray overwrapped with a perforated Mater-Bi ((R))-bag, a polylactide coated paperboard tray overwrapped with a perforated Mater-Bi-(R)-bag, and a perforated cellophane bag. The tomatoes were analyzed for weight loss, mo isture content, color, firmness and flavor. Package type had no significant influence on the tomatoes' sensory quality, whereas storage time significa ntly (p < 0.05) influenced the fruits' color, flavor and firmness. The toma toes' firmness decreased, their redness (a*value) increased and their flavo r diminished during storage. The tomatoes lost more of their weight in biod egradable packages than in LDPE packages.