Effect of packaging films on shelf life and quality of kinnow fruits packed in consumer packages

Kinnow mandarin fruits were harvested at firm mature stage, sorted and graded. For preparing consumer packs six fruits were packed in paper moulded trays and tightly sealed in packaging films viz cryovac heat shrinkable Opti 200 (15 μ) and cling film (15 μ). After packaging the consumer packs were stored at super-market conditions (18–20°C, 80–85% RH). The fruits were evaluated for various physicochemical quality attributes periodically. The shrink film packaging proved quite effective in reducing the weight and firmness loss and maintained the various quality attributes like total soluble solids, acidity, ascorbic acid and carotene content of the fruit during shelf life period. It was noticed that shrink film improved the shelf life and maintained the quality of kinnow fruits for 20 days under supermarket conditions as against 10 days only in case of unpacked control fruits.