Effect of Shock on the Damage Occurrence of Strawberry Packaged by Foam Fruit Tray

Abstract

　We investigated damage caused by shock in 'Tochiotome' strawberries by considering fruits with using two types of firmnesses (approximately 5.1 and 6.1 N). Two types of fruits were harvested at different times and were packaged by using a conventional form fruit tray. The fruit were dropped from heights of 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25m, and the relationship between shock acceleration and damage occurrence and between shock frequency and damage occurrence were determined; the relationships were observed to be well described by power approximate curve. For the fruit with a firmness of 5.1 N, shock frequencies required to damage the fruit were approximately 34% lesser than those required in the case of 6.1 N for each shock acceleration value. Simulation of damage occurrence during transportation by a home delivery service indicated that such differences in the fruit firmness significantly influence the shipping quality of fruits. Therefore, more effective or improved packaging methods should be developed for transporting strawberries with a low firmness.