Long LIfe Solutions ----- Smart Technology 2007

Experiment: Humber Growers Naked Cucumbers
To extend the useable life of naked cucumbers using Long Life Solutions tray liners.

Cucumbers - Freshly cut naked cucumbers were compared with standard shrink-wrapped fruit over a period of four weeks. The following measurements of quality were recorded at the end of each week: -

Weight loss
Breakdown
Firmness
Colour

4 standard 400 x 600 trays containing 30 350-400g cucumbers (shrink-wrapped) and 4 standard 400 x 600 trays containing 30 350-400g cucumbers (tray liner) were selected. Once selected each cucumber was numbered and weighed, and stored in Humber Growers cold store facility. (Average temperature 12.5ºc over the experimental period).


Week 1	Shrink Wrapped	LLS MIP Tray Liner
Weight Loss	None	None
Breakdown	None	None
Firmness	Firm	Firm
Colour	Good	Good


Week 2	Shrink Wrapped	LLS MIP Tray Liner
Weight Loss	2 x 2g	None
Breakdown	1 tip rot	None
Firmness	Firm	1 x slight dehydration
Colour	Slight yellowing	Good


Week 3	Shrink Wrapped	LLS MIP Tray Liner
Weight Loss	8 at up to 2g	None
Breakdown	4 complete breakdown - 6 tip rots	None
Firmness	Poor	8 soft handles
Colour	Yellowing	Slightly pale


Week 4	Shrink Wrapped	LLS MIP Tray Liner
Weight Loss	-	5 at up to 2g
Breakdown	20 complete breakdown	6 with rots
Firmness	-	All soft handles
Colour	-	Yellowing

Cucumber Conclusion
There seems to be a definite shelf-life advantage using these bags (this is now proved in our commercial trials).