Controlled atmosphere containers keep 40-day old avocados in tip-top shape

Atmosphere slows down ripening rateWHILE THE VALUE of controlled atmosphere (CA) containers for certain commodities is obvious, the technology cannot make good out of bad warns Malcolm Dodd, director TransFresh Africa.
Top quality products shipped in this manner will arrive in the best possible condition, he says, and enable importers to manage their marketing programmes with flexibility and confidence. But poor quality products delivered to the shippers cannot be expected to enjoy the good returns involved.
The increased flexibility and quality maintenance are what is driving the huge growth we are seeing in demand for this service, he says.
Dodd points out that during 1995, when TransFresh first offered its service, it handled 71 twelve metre containers. This increased to 278 in 1996 and jumped to 750 last year. Commodities shipped were apples, pears, nectarines, avocado and sweet corn.
There are numerous reports from the quality controllers of UK importers telling of no dusky cold damage on CA shipped fruit, he says.
An interesting result was reported when a shipment of avocados was 40 days old on arrival due to problems with schedules for feeder vessels in Europe. The fruit was rock hard on arrival and ripened perfectly.
He states that the Tectrol controlled atmosphere system provides, in addition to the chilling from the refrigeration equipment, the correct oxygen and carbon dioxide mix for the produce.
The atmosphere provided during the voyage further reduces the rate of respiration of the fresh produce. The benefit, he says, is a slowing down of the ripening rate, minimising the development of storage disorders and the inhibition of growth of fungal pathogens.
The additive effect of these benefits is that the produce is in a much fresher condition on arrival when compared to normal shipments, and has reserves of energy to ensure a good shelf life.
Transfresh, in its laboratory and working with several research organisations, is now investigating litchis, papaya and queen pineapples as targets for future shipments.
We are particularly excited about our joint three year programme with the United States Department of Agriculture, looking at insect disinfestation with atmospheres. We also have a very encouraging project with table grapes, which is due for semi-commercial trials, he says.