Abstract
Vibration analysis of the domestic transportation process was conducted on strawberries which was meant for export. Acceleration within a cardboard box on a truck bed during transportation was measured from the produce growing area (Ibaraki pref.) to Yokohama Port (Kanagawa pref.), and the power spectral density (PSD) of acceleration was calculated. Using this PSD data, 3-dimensional vibration tests were conducted, and four types of multi-stacked packages consisting of different combinations of the outer boxes and inner trays were evaluated for physical damage to the fruit along with calculation of Grms (root mean squared value of acceleration) in the outer boxes. The salable rate of fruits after the vibration test differed by package type and stacked position from 7.7% to 86.7%. The damage score of fruit and Grms were both higher in the upper layer than in the lower layer. These results show the importance of adequate packaging design for transportation of the fruit to reduce distribution losses. Furthermore, Grms is a benefi cial index of the distribution conditions that explains physical damage loss of fresh produce.
