Boerrigter, Henry

Harkema, Harmannus

Otma, Els

English

Wageningen Yield 

A 
A G R D T E C  H N O  L D G Y  &  
F O O D  S C I E N C E S  G R O U P  
W A G  E N I N G E N  
Packaging of organic products in 
PLA - and other films 
Confidential 
Harmannus Harkema, Els Otma en Henry Boerrigter 
Report 934 
Colophon 
Title Packaging of organic products in PLA- and other films 
Author(s) Harmannus Harkema, Els Otma and Henry Boerrigter 
AFSG number Report 934 
ISBN-number 
Date of publication June 2008 
Confidentiality Yes 
OPD code 
Approved by Herman Peppelenbos 
Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group 
P.O. Box 17 
NL-6700 AA W'ageningen 
Tel: +31 (0)317 475 024 
E-mail: info.afsp-@wur.nl 
Internet: www.afsp-.wur.nl " 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v. 
All rights reseired. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system of any nature, or transmitted, in any form 
or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, vit hout the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher 
does not accept any liability for inaccuracies in this report. 
The quality management system of Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v. 
is certified by SGS International Certification Services EESV according to ISO 
9001:2000. 
2 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
Abstract 
Bell peppers were flowpacked in different films and tomatoes on the vine were packed in 
different combinations of bowls and films. The effects of the type of packaging on a number of 
quality parameters were tested. 
No tvpe of package was found having a positive effect on all quality parameters. Films that 
showed firmer fruits sometimes showed more stemrot (bell peppers) or more fungal infection 
and fruit fall (tomatoes on the vine). The results do not indicate that bell peppers or tomatoes on 
the vine, packed in PLA film, have a longer shelf life than when packed in other types of 
packaging tested. 
The sugarcane bowl for tomatoes on the vine has an attractive appearance and is easy to handle. 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 3 
Content 
Abstract 3 
1 Introduction 5 
2 Methods 6 
2.1 Types of packaging 6 
2.2 Distribution chain 6 
2.3 Quality inspection 6 
3 Results 7 
3.1 Bell peppers 7 
3.1.1 Colour 7 
3.1.2 Firmness 7 
3.1.3 Shrivelling of the skin 8 
3.1.4 Stemrot and fungal infection on calyx 9 
3.2 Tomatoes on the vine 9 
3.2.1 Colour 9 
3.2.2 Firmness 10 
3.2.3 Green parts 11 
3.2.4 Fruit fall 11 
3.2.5 Handling and appearance of the packaging 11 
4 Conclusions 12 
4.1 Bell peppers 12 
4.2 Tomatoes on the vine 12 
Appendices 13 
Appendix 1. Packaging types for bell peppers 13 
Appendix 2. Packaging types for tomatoes on the vine 15 
Appendix 3. Quality parameters and scaling of bell peppers 17 
Appendix 4. Quality parameters and scaling of tomatoes on the vine 18 
4 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
1 Introduction 
Eosta B.V. in Waddinxveen (The Netherlands) has the impression that bell peppers and 
tomatoes on the vine, packed in PLA film have a longer shelf life than when packed in OPP film. 
If this statement can be founded by a neutral research institute like A&F, this is an important 
sales argument and it will be a tool, when engaged in négociations with customers. 
This report describes the experimental design and the results of an experiment, carried out by 
A&F in cooperation with Eosta B.V. 
Eosta B.V. has selected producers of bell peppers and tomatoes on the vine and the film types 
and bowl types for the experiment. 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 5 
2 Methods 
2.1 Types of packaging 
For bell peppers as well as tomatoes on the vine different types of packaging were tested. The 
types of packaging for bell peppers were OPP, PLA, Natureflex, Sidaplex and A&F film. As a 
reference bell peppers were kept unpacked in the same conditions. Each package contained 3 bell 
peppers (so called "traffic light": a green-, yellow- and red bell pepper in a package). Bell peppers 
were obtained from two growers. Each grower delivered green-, yellow- and red bell peppers. Per 
type of packaging 10 "traffic lights" were flowpacked per grower; in the A&F film 20 "traffic 
lights" per grower were flowpacked. 
Tomatoes on the vine were packed in a PET bowl in OPP film, a PLA bowl in PLA film, a 
sugarcane bowl in Natureflex film and a sugarcane bowl in A&F film. As a reference tomatoes on 
the vine were packed in a PET bowl without film. Each package contained 500 grams of 
tomatoes on the vine. Tomatoes on the vine were obtained from two growers. Per type of 
packaging 10 units of 500 grams were flowpacked per grower. Pictures of all types of packaging 
are presented in Appendices 1 and 2. 
The products were flowpacked by Eosta B.V. The flow packed products were placed in open 
plastic trays. Extra products for immediate quality inspection and for packaging in the A&F film 
were packed in cardboard boxes. Trays and boxes were transported by van from Eosta B.V. to 
A&F in about 1 hour after packaging. A&F flowpacked the products in the A&F film and these 
packages were also placed in open trays. 
2.2 Distribution chain 
The bell peppers and the tomatoes on the vine were exposed to a transport simulation based on 
an Edeka distribution chain. This chain was: 
From Eosta to DC: 24 hours at 13°C / 70% RH 
From DC to store: 24 hours at 13°C / 70% RH 
48 hours on the shelf: 48 hours at 17°C / 70% RH 
2.3 Quality inspection 
The quality of the products was inspected three times: 
• At arrival at AFSG: inspection of unpacked products from two growers 
• After transport simulation; all products were unpacked and inspected; after inspection the 
products were stored in open trays in a shelf life room (18°C / 75% RH) 
• After 4 days in the shelf life room 
The quality parameters for bell peppers were colour, firmness, shrivelling, stemrot and fruitrot 
and for tomatoes on the vine colour, firmness, condition and colour of the stem and calices, 
fungi on fruits, fungi on stem and calices and fruit fall. The quality parameters and the scalings 
are presented in Appendices 3 and 4. 
6 © Agrotechnologv and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
3 Results 
3.1 Bell peppers 
3.1.1 Colour 
All green bell peppers were completely green at the start and after 4 days of distribution 
simulation. After 4 more days at 18°C a few green bell peppers showed some red colouration. 
All red bell peppers were completely red during the whole experiment. 
The yellow bell peppers were partly green at the start and the yellow part turned to orange here 
and there (table 1). At the start of the experiment the yellow bell peppers from grower A were 
greener than the ones from grower B. After 8 days no difference between the growers was found 
anymore. Colouring was not influenced by the type of packaging. 
start After 4 days After 8 days 
Grower green yellow orange green yellow orange green yellow orange 
A 21 74 5 9 88 3 1 96 3 
B 8 88 4 4 94 2 1 96 3 
3.1.2 Firmness 
Figure 1 shows the firmness of the bell peppers at the start of the experiment, after the 
simulation (4 days) and after 4 more days at 18°C (after 8 days). 
Firmness of bell peppers 
start no film OPP PLA Natureflex Sidaplex A&F 
Packaging type 
• start 
B after 4 days 
• after 8 days 
Figure 1. Average firmness of green -, yellow - and red bell peppers at the start of the experiment and after 
4 and 8 days. There is no statistical difference when data have one or more the same characters. 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 7 
Firmness after 4 days: 
• All films had a positive effect on firmness of green, red and yellow bell peppers 
• The firmest red and yellow bell peppers had been packed in A&F film 
• PLA film showed firmer red and vellow bell peppers than Natureflex, there was no 
difference between PLA, OPP and Sidaplax. 
Firmness after 8 days: 
• All films had a positive effect on firmness 
• A&F film gave better results than the other films, except Sidaplex 
• No difference was found between OPP, PLA and Natureflex 
• There were some small differences between the colours 
Green bell peppers were firmer than the yellow and red ones after 4 and 8 days. 
3.1.3 Shrivelling of the skin 
After 4 days only a few bell peppers showed skin shrivelling. After 8 days the shrivelling was 
more clear. Figure 2 shows skin shrivelling after 8 days. 
Shrivelling of bell peppers (after 8 days) 
d 
cd 
b 
c 
ab 
a 
no film OPP PLA Natureflex Sidaplex A&F 
Packaging type 
Figure 2. Average shrivelling of green -, yellow - and red bell peppers at the start of the experiment and 
after 4 and 8 days. There is no statistical difference when data have one or more the same characters. 
Figure 2 shows that: 
• Bell peppers from all films except Natureflex showed less shrivelling than the unpacked 
bell peppers. 
• A&F film gave better results than all other films, except Sidaplex 
8 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
• Bell peppers from PLA film showed more skin shrivelling than bell peppers from all films 
except Nature flex 
Green bell peppers showed very little skin shrivelling, and no differences between the types of 
packaging. 
3.1.4 Stemrot andfungal infection on calyx 
After 4 days some bell peppers showed "wet" stem rot (picture 1), after 8 days in most cases this 
stemrot had become dry. Bell peppers packed in A&F film showed more stemrot than the bell 
peppers from the other types of packaging. The packed bell peppers had no more stem rot than 
the unpacked reference (except the ones packed in A&F film). Some yellow and red bell peppers 
showed a fungal infection on the calyx (picture 2). This was not due to the type of film. 
Picture 1 Stemrot (wet) Picture 2 Fungal infection on calyx 
3.2 Tomatoes on the vine 
3.2.1 Colour 
Table 2 shows the percentage of tomatoes with an orange red or dark red colour, without green 
or greenish parts. There was only a little difference between growers A and B. Some statistically 
differences between packages were found, but because macro — or micro perforations in the films 
could not affect the atmospheric composition, it is assumed that the colour differences were 
caused by differences in ripeness at the start of the experiment. 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 9 
Table 2. Percentage of orange-red, red and dark red tomatoes on the vine 
Grower start After 4 days After 8 days 
A 54 82 96 
B 60 86 98 
Table 2 shows that after 8 days almost all tomatoes were at least orange red. 
3.2.2 Firmness 
Figure 3 shows the firmness of the tomatoes on the vine at the start of the experiment, after the 
simulation (4 days) and after 4 more days at 18°C (after 8 days). 
Firmness of tomatoes on the vine 
start open PET PEtinOPP PLA in PLA SC in SCinA&F 
Natureflex 
Packaging type 
• start 
• after 4 days 
• after 8 days 
Figure 3. Average firmness of tomatoes on the vine at the start of the experiment and after 4 and 8 days. 
There is no statistical difference when data have one or more the same characters. 
Figure 3 shows that: 
• After 4 days: 
o The differences between the types of packaging were very small 
o The fruits in sugarcane bowls in Natureflex or A&F film were "statistically" 
firmer than the fruits in the PET bowl without film 
• After 8 days: 
o The fruits in sugarcane bowls in Natureflex or A&F film were firmer than the 
fruits in the PET bowl without film and the fruits in the PLA bowl in PLA film 
After 4 as well as 8 days the differences between PLA and the other films were only noticed in 
the fruits of grower A. 
10 © Agrotechnologv and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
3.2.3 Green parts 
The condition of the green parts (stem and calices) did not show differences due to the type of 
packaging. The condition of the green parts was not very good. The fungal infection on the green 
parts is shown in figure 4. Fungal infection is most clear after unpacking. Therefore figure 4 
shows the fungal infection after 4 days. 
c 3 
o 
Fungal infection on tomatoes on the vine (after 4 days) 
open PET PETinOPP PLA in PLA SC in Natu reflex 
Packaging type 
SC in A&F 
Figure 4. Fungal infection on the green parts of tomatoes on the vine after 4 days. There is no statistical 
difference when data have one or more the same characters. 
The green parts from the reference and the PET bowl in OPP film showed no fungal infection at 
all. Although the fungal infection was not serious (< 1 on a 0 - 5 scale), the other types of 
packaging, "PLA in PLA" in particular" and "SC in A&F" showed some fungal infection. 
3.2.4 F m itfall 
Most fruit fall occurred in the sugarcane bowl in A&F film. 
3.2.5 Handling and appearance of the packaging 
The tomatoes in the PET - and PLA bowls are more or less jammed in the bowls; at removal 
from the bowls the tomatoes have to be forced, which is a disadvantage of this type of packaging. 
The green sugarcane bowls have two advantages: removal of the tomatoes from the bowls is 
possible without forcing and the appearance of the bowls is very attractive. 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 11 
4 Conclusions 
4.1 Bell peppers 
• All types of film had a positive effect on firmness and shrivelling, even if the bell peppers 
were unpacked during shelf life, which was the case in this experiment 
• A&F film was better than PLA, OPP and Natureflex concerning firmness and shrivelling, 
but bell peppers from the A&F film showed more stemrot than the ones from the other 
films 
• Sidaplex had a better — or at least an equal effect on the quality parameters compared with 
OPP, PLA and Natureflex. 
4.2 Tomatoes on the vine 
• The A&F film has an advantage (firm fruits) and two disadvantages (fungal infection and 
fruit fall). Therefore the A&F film is not recommended for packaging of tomatoes on the 
vine. 
• The differences between the other types of packaging are too small to base a 
recommendation on for one or more type of packaging. 
• The sugarcane bowl has an attractive appearance and is easy to handle. 
12 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
Appendices 
Appendix 1. Packaging types for bell peppers 
OPP film 
PLA film 
Nature flex 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 13 
A&F film 
14 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
Appendix 2. Packaging types for tomatoes on the vine 
PET bowl (Reference) 
PET bowl in OPP film 
PLA bowl in PLA film 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v, member of Wageningen UR 15 
Sugarcane bowl in Natureflex film 
Sugarcane bowl in A&F film 
16 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 
Appendix 3. Quality parameters and scaling of bell peppers 
Colour: 
Firmness: 
Shrivelling 
Stem rot: 
Fruit rot: 
Colour in % of surface 
5 = very firm 
4 = firm 
3 = rather soft 
2 = soft 
1 = very soft 
0 — no shrivelling 
1 — some shrivelling 
2 = clear shrivelling 
0 = no stem rot 
1 = up to 25% of stem length rotten 
2 = 25 — 50% of stem length rotten 
3 = 50 — 75% of stem length rotten 
4 = 75 — 100% of stem length rotten 
5 — 75 - 100% of stem length + (part of) calyx rotten 
Rotten surface in % 
© Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 17 
Appendix 4. Quality parameters and scaling of tomatoes on the vine 
Colour: Pictures 1 — 11: 
9 = orange red 
10 = red 
11= dark red 
Firmness: 
9 = very firm (like a stone) 
8 = very firm 
7 = firm 
6 = rather soft (sufficient) 
5 = rather soft (insufficient) 
4 = soft 
3 = very soft 
Condition of green parts (stem + calyx): 
5 = very green and turgescent 
4 = green and turgescent 
3 = moderate green and turgescent 
2 = rather dry (sufficient) 
1 = dry, insufficient 
0 = totally dry 
Fungal infection of green parts (stem + calyx): 
0 = no fungal infection] 
1 = minimal fungal infection 
2 = some fungal infection 
3 = clear fungal infection 
4 = severe fungal infection 
5 = totally covered with fungi 
18 © Agrotechnology and Food Innovations b.v., member of Wageningen UR 


Packaging of organic products in PLA- and other films

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