Packaging is not only shaping the future of the fresh produce industry but is critical to maintaining fruit appearance. These conclusions were drawn by voters in this week’s freshinfo poll on the importance of packaging in the seasons and supply situations of fresh produce crops world-wide.

"I strongly believe that packaging is the most important thing in maintaining the overall appearance of fruit as well as achieving maximum performance in terms of long-term storage," said Mimi Spiliopoulou, a Greek agronomist who provides procurement, technical and quality assurance services to UK importers. "We also have to bear in mind the importance of being able maintain consistent quality throughout the duration of storage of fresh produce."

Spiliopoulo has completed a three year project trying to eliminate botrytis from Thompson Seedless grapes. "This was done by cultivating a lot of botrytis spores and using specific types of sulphur pads," explained Spiliopoulou. "Now we rarely have problems with development of the disease during storage."

Spiliopoulo is now running a similar trial on strawberries. The results of the two-year project using non-sulphur techniques are expected this summer. "Everything is going well and I am co-operating with three different glasshouses," said Spiliopoulou. "Over the last month, it seems that the problem is disappearing."

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