Impact of Packaging on Bruise Damage of Fresh Produce

Consumers demand high-quality fresh produce; nonetheless, mechanical damage to fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables, that occurs along the postharvest supply chain affects fresh produce quality and impedes consumer acceptance, resulting in considerable economic losses. Improper packaging and packaging materials are the leading causes of bruise damage in the postharvest handling of fresh produce. Bruising, a form of mechanical damage, is caused when packages are subjected to compression, impact, or vibration loadings and is a vital component that limits mechanized harvesting, transportation, postharvest handling, and fresh produce processing. This chapter presents the impact of pack-aging on the bruising of fresh produce, including fruit and vegetables. The chapter provides an overview of fresh produce packaging and summarizes the mechanisms of bruising in fresh produce. The effects of bruise damage on fresh produce quality were also discussed, as were various methods of assessing packaging and fresh produce damage.