scholarly journals Postharvest Quality of Mechanically and Hand-harvested, Southern Highbush Blueberry Fruit for Fresh Market

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Sargent ◽  
Adrian D. Berry ◽  
Jeffrey G. Williamson ◽  
James W. Olmstead

Three southern highbush blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids) were mechanically harvested (MH) or hand-harvested (HH) and commercially packed before storage for 14 days at 1 °C in two successive years. MH fruit were softer, had lower ratings for overall appearance, and lost up to 20% more fresh weight than HH fruit after 14 days storage. MH ‘Meadowlark’ had fewer soft fruit (<35%) during storage than either ‘Sweetcrisp’ or ‘Farthing’; however, the latter two cultivars had lower incidences of shrivel and weight loss. Fruit in the 2010 season were more susceptible to bruising than those from the 2009 season; however, soluble solids content (SSC), total titratable acidity (TTA), and ascorbic acid concentration remained constant during storage and between seasons. ‘Meadowlark’ had the highest sugar to acid ratio (25.0). Successful implementation of MH of southern highbush blueberries for fresh market will only be commercially feasible if harvest impacts are further reduced.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Koort ◽  
Ulvi Moor ◽  
Priit Põldma ◽  
Clive Kaiser ◽  
Marge Starast

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of modified atmosphere (MA) packages on the external quality of organically grown lowbush blueberry and half-highbush blueberry (’Northblue’) and the nutritional value of the fruits. Fruits were divided into plastic punnets and stored as follows: regular atmosphere (RA), punnets without packing; punnets sealed in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE, Estiko) bag; punnets sealed in an Xtend® blueberry bag (Stepac). Fruits were stored at 3 ± 1 °C. Compared to RA conditions, the Xtend® package prolonged the postharvest life for 15 days for lowbush and 9 days for half-highbush blueberries. Fruit dry matter (DM) and titratable acidity (TA) were higher in the Xtend® package. Fruit SSC decreased in the LDPE packages and increased in the Xtend® packages during storage. Based on the decreased soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) ratio (SSC:TA) values during storage, it can be concluded that the taste of the fruits became sourer in all packages. Anthocyanin biosynthesis of lowbush blueberries was suppressed in MA, but this effect was not noticed for ‘Northblue’. Regarding fruit firmness, shrivelling, and decay, there were significant differences between the MA packages, but the genetic differences were more important: half-highbush blueberry fruits were firmer and less shrivelled.


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Yixin Cai ◽  
Fumiomi Takeda ◽  
Brian Foote ◽  
Lisa Wasko DeVetter

Machine harvesting blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) alleviates labor costs and shortages but can reduce fruit quality. Installation of softer catching surfaces inside modified over-the-row harvesters (modified OTR) and adjusting harvest intervals may improve fruit quality and packout. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest interval on fruit quality of fresh market northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) harvested using a modified OTR. ‘Liberty’ blueberry bushes were harvested by hand or using a modified OTR at 3-, 10-, and 14-day intervals in 2019 and at 7-, 11-, and 14-day intervals in 2020. Hand-harvested ‘Liberty’ had greater packout and firmness than machine-harvested fruit. Machine harvesting at the 3-day interval in 2019, and the 14-day interval in 2020 reduced packout from 70–80% to 60% and 54%, respectively. In 2019, machine harvesting at a 3-day interval overall resulted in fruit with greater firmness, higher titratable acidity (TA), and lower total soluble solids (TSS) and SS/TA, compared to other harvest intervals. In 2020, the 7-day machine-harvest interval had a greater TA and lower TSS/TA, compared to the 11- and 14-day intervals. Overall, modified OTR machine-harvest intervals can be extended to 10–11 days for fresh market northern highbush cultivars such as ‘Liberty’ grown in northwest Washington.


HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 835-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Gilbert ◽  
Michael L. Schwieterman ◽  
Thomas A. Colquhoun ◽  
David G. Clark ◽  
James W. Olmstead

Previously, when selecting for flavor in the University of Florida southern highbush blueberry (SHB, Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrids) breeding program, sugar/acid ratios and breeder preference were the only factors considered. A more precise method of evaluating flavor would include volatile compounds that may also contribute to the flavor experience. Therefore, volatile profiles of five SHB cultivars (Farthing, FL01-173, Scintilla, Star, and Sweetcrisp) were compared using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. All cultivars were harvested on four separate dates within the harvest season, and fruit from each cultivar were also harvested at four developmental stages on the first harvest date. Among the cultivars, soluble solids content and volatile production tended to increase with fruit maturity, whereas titratable acidity decreased. All volatile components were more variable than measures of sugars and acids during the harvest season. Many of the volatiles present varied significantly between harvest dates, resulting in significant genotype × environment interactions during the harvest season. A closer examination of linalool, trans-2-hexenol, trans-2-hexenal, hexanal, and 1-penten-3-ol, five volatile compounds commonly associated with blueberry flavor, showed cultivar, developmental stage, and harvest date differences for each volatile. ‘Star’ experienced the least variation through the harvest period.


1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Lang ◽  
Jiaxun Tao

The postharvest performance of early ripening southern highbush blueberries `Sharpblue' and `Gulfcoast' was evaluated under storage and simulated retail conditions. In general, `Gulfcoast' fruit were 28% heavier than those of `Sharpblue', which had a higher percent soluble solids concentration (SSC) and lower titratable acidity (TA). Quality loss, as indexed by fresh weight, percent decayed fruit, or changes in SSC, pH, or TA, was insignificant in first-harvest fruit of either cultivar when kept in storage (2C) for up to 7 days. Transfer of fruit stored at 2C for 3 days to simulated retail conditions at 21C for 4 days significantly increased fresh weight loss and decay, but not beyond levels deemed unmarketable. Second-harvest fruit were smaller than first-harvest fruit, and those of `Sharpblue' fruit were more prone to decay. However, storage quality of both cultivars was acceptable through 11 days at 2C. Retail quality, as influenced by decay incidence, was acceptable after 3 days at 2C plus 4 days at 21C, but not after 3 days at 2C plus 8 days at 21C. Overall, fruits of these early ripening southern highbush blueberry cultivars performed well under postharvest conditions and are suitable for expanding production of premium fresh blueberries by growers in the Gulf coastal plains.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Beghi ◽  
Simone V. Marai ◽  
Valentina Giovenzana ◽  
Enrico Ferrari ◽  
Riccardo Guidetti

The aim of this work is to test a passive cooling system (PCS) on highbush blueberry (<em>Vaccinium corymbosum</em> L.) to verify cooling performances soon after harvest. Based on experimental results the cooling trend was modelled and a dedicated system was designed for the optimisation of blueberries cold chain. The evolution of qualitative characteristics of stored fruits was evaluated analysing the percentage of damaged berries, the weight loss, the texture, the titratable acidity and the total soluble solids content. The analysis of temperature profiles during transport using PCS shows how this device is not fast enough in tearing down the blueberries field heat. A computer simulation, using finite elements method modelling, considering the thermo-physical properties of materials used and the boundary conditions arising from experimental data collected was carried out. Computer modelling has provided the characteristics of geometry, thickness, type and density of the material to obtain the desired cooling performance.


Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Sargent ◽  
Fumiomi Takeda ◽  
Jeffrey G. Williamson ◽  
Adrian D. Berry

Fresh market southern highbush blueberries are typically hand-harvested which requires an extensive labor force over a relative short period of time. With rising production costs and labor availability issues, interest in mechanical harvesting options is increasing. In 2017, an over-the-row (OTR) harvester was modified to reduce purchase cost while making hand labor more efficient. The picking heads were removed and dual worker stations were added on each side of the unit. Handheld olive shakers were suspended at each station. Experimental catch plates were installed on one side of the OTR harvester and soft, inclined surfaces over the rigid conveyors on both sides. ‘Meadowlark’ and ‘Farthing’ blueberries were harvested with this system and compared to those manually harvested by a commercial harvest crew. Samples from each harvest method were then commercially cooled and mechanically harvested fruit were commercially packed to determine packout data. Fruit firmness, bruise severity and composition were determined after one day at room temperature (22 °C) and after seven and fourteen days of storage at 1 °C. Average packout was very high for mechanically harvested fruit, 87% for ‘Meadowlark’ and 91% for ‘Farthing’. Initial firmness of both cultivars was lower for mechanically harvested fruit (208 g/mm) than hand-harvested fruit (243 g/mm). Fruit from the three treatments softened during storage, and although ‘Meadowlark’ remained firmer than ‘Farthing’ during storage, there were no differences due to catch surfaces. Hand-harvested fruit had no severe bruising (>20% of cut surface area) at harvest, increasing to 2% after seven days, while mechanically harvested fruit from both fruit collection surfaces had 3% initial severe bruising that increased to 22% during storage. ‘Farthing’ had slightly higher soluble solids content and significantly higher total titratable acidity compared to ‘Meadowlark’. Additional modifications must be made to the next-generation OTR harvester to further reduce blueberry harvest and handling impacts.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 533d-533
Author(s):  
P. Perkins-Veazie ◽  
J. K. Collins ◽  
J. R. Clark ◽  
J. Magee

Although several new southern highbush blueberry cultivars have been introduced, little is known about their shelflife quality. Five southern highbush cultivars and three advanced selections were harvested from plantings at Clarksville, Ark. and held at 5C, 95% RH for 21 days followed by 1 day at 20C. `Gulf Coast' fruit had the most and `A109' the least weight loss after storage (12% and 6%). `Gulf Coast' fruit were rated softest after storage, Anthocyanin content was highest in `Cape Fear' and lowest in `MS108' (142 and 57 abs. units/g FW, respectively). After storage, total anthocyanin content increased 60% in `Cape Fear' and `O'Neal' fruit. Fruit pH was higher in stored fruit but titratable acidity decreased only in `ONeal', `Sierra', and `G616' fruit. Results indicate that southern highbush blueberries cultivars show great variability in shelflife quality.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia KP Camargo ◽  
Juliano Tadeu V de Resende ◽  
Tânia T Tominaga ◽  
Sonia Maria Kurchaidt ◽  
Cristhiano K Camargo ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine some physicochemical characteristics of fruits of eight strawberry cultivars (Aromas, Camino Real, Campinas, Dover, Oso Grande, Toyonoka, Tudla-Milsei and Ventana) cultivated in organic and conventional systems. The evaluated characteristics were soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/AT ratio and anthocyanins. Evaluated sensory characteristics were flavor and appearance. The cultivars had a differential performance between themselves and among the systems for the evaluated characteristics. Generally, the conventional system produced fruit with higher levels of soluble solids and, organic system produced higher concentrations of anthocyanins. The fruits of the cultivar Toyonoka had the best soluble solids content in both systems and the anthocyanins content of 'Tudla-Milsei' and 'Camino Real' were proeminent in comparison to the other cultivars. The fruits from the organic system of production were preferred by judges on the sensorial attributes. The highest notes were given to the appearance of the cultivar Ventana in the conventional system and 'Tudla-Milsei' in the organic system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Fang ◽  
Qinchun Duan ◽  
Zhuo Wang ◽  
Fuyun Li ◽  
Jianxiong Du ◽  
...  

‘Red Globe’ table grapes are large, edible, seeded fruit with firm flesh that tastes good, but can have poor postharvest shelf-life. This study was conducted to explore the effects of products of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain F17 and Leuconostoc lactis strain H52 on ‘Red Globe’ table grapes for the enhancement of shelf-life and improvement of grape quality characteristics during postharvest storage. Strains F17 and H52 were isolated from traditional fermented yak milk obtained in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Samples from untreated and treated grapes were analyzed for physicochemical, biochemical, and microbiological properties (weight loss, decay rate, pH, total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenols, sensory evaluation, and microbial growth) for 20 days. The results demonstrated that supernatants from both strains significantly reduced weight loss, decay rate, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, and coliform bacteria counts; delayed maturity and senescence of table grapes; and reduced titratable acidity and total phenols. However, the supernatant of strain F17 was more effective and resulted in better sensory evaluations and had a significant inhibitory effect on yeast and molds by day 5. Meanwhile, the supernatant from strain H52 had a significant inhibitory effect on fungi over the whole storage period. In addition, the results of the Pearson correlation analysis suggested that weight loss, decay rate, total soluble solids content, and microorganisms were highly correlated with the sensory evaluation data and quality of postharvest grapes when treated with the products of strain F17. On the basis of these data and sensory organoleptic qualities, the supernatant containing products from strain F17 had the best potential as a biopreservative to improve the postharvest quality of ‘Red Globe’ table grapes.


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