Air Transport of California Strawberries: Factors Affecting Market Quality in Spring Shipments--1966

Excerpts from the report: Strawberries from southern California are shipped mostly in the spring season to eastern and midwestern markets. Because of the relatively cool weather at this time of year, handling procedures for air shipment of berries are somewhat different from those for fruit shipped from the summer districts in northern California. The spring tests were designed to relate various commercial shipping practices to spoilage and market quality, and also to study experimental protective pallet covers for strawberries. The variables studied were as follows: 1. Time, temperature, and handling procedures in each portion of the transit period; 2. Precooling the fruit for various times before shipment; 3. Use of dry ice to modify the atmospheres in transit; and 4. Use of various types of pallet covers to retain the modified atmospheres produced by dry ice and also to provide physical protection for the berrie