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PACKAGING OF BANANA

Introduction

Packaging of Banana

• India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables

• It will have significance only when fruits and vegetables reach

the consumer in fresh and palatable condition at a reasonable

price

• Due to heavy post harvest losses, a considerable gap between

production and availability of fruits and vegetables to consumers

• Post-harvest losses are occurring in the period between

harvesting and consumption

• An urgent need to adopt proper post harvest management

practices by adopting improved packaging, handling and efficient

transportation methods

Packaging of Banana

Introduction cont…..

• Packaging is required to keep fruits, vegetables and root crops

in good condition until it is soled and consumed

• Packaging serves as an efficient handling unit to carry produce

from field to consumer

• The package should also protect the produce against rotting

• Packages must protect against possible damage

Packaging of Banana

Definition of Food Packaging

Food packaging is defined as a mean or system by which a fresh

produce or processed product will reach from the production centre

to the ultimate consumer in safe and sound condition at an

affordable price

Packaging of Banana

Functions of Packaging Material

Two main functions of packaging are:

1. To assemble the produce into convenient units for

handling.

2. To protect the produce during distribution, storage and

marketing.

Packaging of Banana

• Serves as an efficient handling unit

• Protects from mechanical damage

• Protects against moisture loss

• Provides clean and sanitary storage

• To prevent pilferage

• Provides sales and service motivation

• Reduces cost of transport and marketing

Packaging materials used to serve the following purposes

Packaging of Banana

Packaging Materials for Fresh Produce 1. Basket made of woven strips of leaves, bamboo, plastic etc.

2. Sacks: flexible, made of plastic or jute.

i) Bags: small size sack

ii) Nets: sacks made of open mesh

3. Wooden crates

4. Fibreboard boxes

i) Solid fibreboard boxes

ii) Corrugated fibreboard boxes

5. Plastic crates

6. Biodegradable plastics

7. New innovations in packaging of fruits, vegetables and root crops

8. Pallet boxes and shipping containers

Packaging of Banana

Packaging Materials for Process Products

Packaging for processed products is of several types:

1. Glass containers

2. Metal cans

3. Aluminium foil

4. Plastic materials

5. Collapsible containers

6. Composite containers

Packaging of Banana

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• Cushioning material used for packaging fruits and vegetables are

dry grass, paddy straw, leaves, saw dust, paper shreds etc

• It should dissipate the heat of respiration of the produce

• It should be free from infection and should be physiologically

inactive

• Moulded pulp tray, honeycomb portion, cell pack are used

replacing the cushioning material

• Cassia leaves are most effective in reducing physiological loss in

weight (PLW), spoilage, retaining fruit colour and chemical quality

Packaging of Banana

Cushioning Materials and Wrap

• One of the newest trends in produce packaging is the shrink-

wrapping of individual produce items

• Shrink-wrapping with an engineered plastic wrap can reduce

• shrinkage,

• protect the produce from disease,

• reduce mechanical damage and

• provide a good surface for stick-on labels

Packaging of Banana

Packing

• Containers should not be filled either too loosely or too tightly for

best results

• Loose products may vibrate against each other and cause bruising

• While over-packing results in compression bruising

• Proper filling along with cushioning can minimize rubbing damage

Packaging of Banana

Packaging of Banana

• Conventionally bananas are transported as whole bunches

wrapped with banana leaves

• Use of polyethylene film bags for wrapping whole bunches for

transport is found to be most suitable to reduce wastage

• For export purpose bananas are packed in telescopic type

corrugated fibre board boxes of different dimensions with good

ventilated holes

• The banana hands packed into the boxes in the lengthwise

manner with their cushion resting on the bottom of the box and

fruit finger tips pointing towards the lid

• Stacking of these boxes is done lengthwise.

Packaging of Banana

Special Care in Packaging

•All freshly harvested produce are living entities

•They respire till their senescence

•The packaging must be provided with enough vents

•The produce can respire appropriately and remains fresh and

alive

Packaging of Banana

Banana Transport as Bulk & Loose Packaged

Packaging of Banana

Banana Transport in Carton

Banana carton from Ecuador: note the perforated polyethylene film.

Banana cartons from the Dominican Republic

Source:www.tis-gdv.de

Packaging of Banana

Banana Hand In plastic crate Banana in Basket

Packaging of Banana

Banana in Fibre Board Boxes for Ripening

Packaging of Banana

• Food packaging is a system by which the fresh produce or

processed one will reach from the production centre to the ultimate

consumer in safe and sound condition at an affordable cost

• It serves two basic objectives, i.e., marketing and logistics

• Adopting improved packaging, handling and transportation methods

during distribution and marketing can successfully avert huge post

harvest losses

• The product requirements, the marketing system and the personnel

preference will determine the type of packaging to use

Let Us Sum Up

Packaging of Banana