Method for Increasing the Shelf Life of Fruit

Abstract

The present invention relates a method for increasing the shelf life of fruit comprising the steps of: treating a fruit with UV light from a UV light source, packaging the fruit in packaging film that allows the fruit to be stored in a modified atmosphere within said film, and storing the packaged fruit.

1 : A fruit packaging apparatus having
 (a) a UV light source;   (b) a fruit packer comprising a film;
 wherein the fruit packer is configured to package a fruit in a packaging film that allows passive permeability of gases and that allows the fruit to be stored in a modified atmosphere within said film; 
 wherein the film is a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) film having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of 20000 cc/m 2 /day to 60000 cc/m 2 /day; 
 wherein the MAP film is configured to maintain after 10 days storage at an ambient temperature, wherein the ambient temperature is from 14° C. to 20° C., a modified atmosphere comprising from 8% to 17% O 2  and/or from 4% to 13% CO 2 ; and 
 wherein the modified atmosphere comprises ozone; and 
   (c) a surface for holding the fruit wherein the surface is movable between the UV light source and the fruit packer so that the fruit can be exposed to the UV light source before the fruit packer;   wherein the MAP film is configured to increase the shelf life of the packaged fruit by at least 1 day when the packaged fruit is stored at an ambient temperature, wherein the ambient temperature is from 14° C. to 20° C.; and/or   wherein the MAP film is configured to increase the shelf life of the packaged fruit by at least 5 days when the packaged fruit is stored at a chilled temperature, wherein the chilled temperature is from 3° C. to 10° C.; and   wherein the fruit is avocado.   
     
     
         2 : The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fruit is held such that the stem faces the UV light source during the treatment with UV light. 
     
     
         3 : The apparatus according to either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the avocado is a ready-to-eat avocado.