As the standard of living rises for consumers, there is a corresponding increase in demands for superior quality and freshness in fruits. With downstream customers placing greater emphasis on the freshness and shelf life of fruits and vegetables, traders are increasingly prioritizing technological and managerial aspects to maintain the quality of fresh produce. Recently, Manager Chen, the foreign trade manager at Shandong Aoweite Biotechnology Co., Ltd., provided insights into apple preservation management and highlighted the advantages of 1-MCP technology for fruit preservation.
Ethylene is key to controlling the apple ripening rate
The key to preserving the nutrition and freshness of apples lies in effectively managing their ripening and aging processes. Temperature and oxygen levels play pivotal roles in accelerating ripening, while high humidity fosters fungal growth on apple skins, leading to rot. Conversely, low humidity causes fruit dehydration and shrinkage. To maximize storage duration while preserving fruit quality, several conditions must be met. Firstly, fruits should be healthy, intact, and harvested at their peak ripeness. Subsequently, during post-harvest management, strict control over temperature, humidity, and gas composition in cold storage facilities is imperative to minimize fruit respiration."
"Whether stored in conventional cold storage or controlled atmosphere warehouses, meticulous regulation of ethylene activity is essential for extending the shelf life of apples by up to three months while retaining their nutritional content, firmness, and flavor," explained Chen. "Ethylene, a gaseous hormone, exhibits varying production rates across different tissues. While mature tissues release minimal ethylene, meristems, sprouting seeds, wilting flowers, and ripening fruits generate higher ethylene levels. Ethylene facilitates RNA and protein synthesis, accelerates respiration, promotes organic matter transformation, and expedites fruit ripening.
High-purity 1-MCP effectively extends the shelf life of apples
According to Chen, 1-MCP serves as a competitive inhibitor of ethylene. When applied prior to endogenous ethylene production in plants or the action of exogenous ethylene, 1-MCP binds pre-emptively to ethylene receptors, thereby obstructing ethylene from interacting with its receptors and halting the apple's ripening process. Only upon exposure to normal air after exiting cold storage will the fruit's pulp cells regenerate new ethylene receptors, reinitiating a series of physiological and biochemical ripening reactions. Throughout this period, the freshness of the apples is effectively preserved."
"After treatment with Logfresh, the fruit's ethylene receptors bind with 1-MCP in cold storage for a mere 24 hours. Subsequently, standard cold storage management procedures can be implemented, effectively mitigating apple storage diseases, maintaining product firmness and crispness, as well as preserving color, flavor, aroma, and nutrients. Logfresh's active ingredient, 1-MCP, is remarkably pure and environmentally friendly, posing no harm to humans. It has demonstrated successful application in ethylene-sensitive produce such as apples, pears, kiwis, avocados, bananas, tomatoes, and flowers," noted Chen.
Shandong Aoweite Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is dedicated to delivering fresh-keeping solutions to leading fruit and vegetable suppliers worldwide, spanning the entirety of the agricultural product supply chain. "Whether in farmers' fields, cold storage facilities, logistics vehicles, or packaging plants, we tailor products to meet customers' freshness requirements," remarked Chen. "Currently, the company's 1-MCP, marketed under the trade name Logfresh, has obtained registration in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. The company's team works closely with distributors in many regions, and is looking for strategic partners around the world."