A new packaging box for grapes has cushioning measures against the impact during transport.
TOKYO, March 19 — Japanese researchers have developed a new packaging box for table grapes, designed to protect the fruit so it arrives fresh and in good conditions to customers.
Table grapes can easily be physically damaged, and poor handling can result in bunch shattering.
So, packaging is key to minimizing transportation losses and extending the post-harvest life of fresh grapes.
Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has unveiled the new box that contains layers of cushioning sheets with two big holes.
The holes allow different sizes of grapes to be placed in a way to resist the impact of rough handling during transit.
Conventional packages place cushion pads at bottom and on top, because each grape has a different shape. But loose packaging can cause damage to the product during transit.
The total losses of fresh fruits during transportation and distribution are higher than that of vegetables. According to the agriculture ministry, fruit loss has been estimated to be 17 percent.