Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on

pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

I. Gerbert1, M. Linke1, W.B. Herppich1, P. Kläring2, M. Geyer1

1Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik Potsdam-Bornim e.V.

2Leibniz-Institut für Gemüse und Zierpflanzenbau Großbeeren

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction
Fruit and vegetable supply chain
Thresholds
Farm Wholesale Retail
Retail
Producer cooperative Transport Transport Retail Consumer
Modelling the
Stiffness Transport
+ Thermal Transport

Impact
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

Application Big demand of all players in the fruit and vegetables supply chain
Summary to get online information on every step in the chain:

Producer: produce, pre harvest parameters (i.e. plant protection), produce quality,
time, temperature at and after harvest …
Transport: Time, temperature, rh ..
Farm coop.: + storage conditions, packaging, time, temperature, rel. humidity …
Transport:
Wholesale: + time, temperature, rel. humidity …
Transport:
Retail: + time, temperature, rel. humidity …
Transport:
Consumer: ??

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction
Quality management
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness Farm Wholesale Retail
Retail
Producer cooperative Transport Transport Retail Consumer
+ Thermal
Impact Transport
Transport
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

Application

Summary Traceability
Temp. + rh

Wireless datalogger fitted with

shelf life prediction model

• line-of-sight is not required

• rapid and simultaneous reading of tags resp. logger Temp.

• larger data storage capacity

• real-time information updates along the supply chain
• integration of sensors
Temp. + rh

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Monitoring the Environmental Conditions during Transport and Distribution
and Predicting the Shelf Life
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness Farm Wholesale Retail
Retail
Producer cooperative Transport Transport Retail Consumer
+ Thermal
Impact Transport
Transport

+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

Application

Summary Data-transfer points

Webserver/Database

Prediction-
Input: Output:
Control Model ƒ producer
ƒ produce
ƒ producer ƒ transportation conditions
Procedere 1 Procedere 1 ƒ quality
ƒ time
ƒ preharvest conditons ƒ shelf life
ƒ quality relevant parameters ƒ ...
= expected shelf life
ƒ ...

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction
Predicting the Shelf Life based on Thresholds of Marketability
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal Consumer Preferences: visual [ color, brightness, intactness, shape....]
Impact
(EU Norms) olfactory [ smell, .... ]
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest tactile [ consistency, elasticity, stiffness.... ]
Influence
gustatory [ taste, (texture), .... ]
Modelling the
Shelflife
Properties and Processes: compounds [ pigments, volatile components,
Application
acid, SSC, lipids, .... ]
Summary
metabolism [ transpiration, respiration,
degradation, transformation.... ]

Threshold of marketability for tomato: stiffness

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction
Predicting the Shelf Life based on Thresholds of Marketability
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal
Impact
loss of water temperature = constant
+ Water Effect
limit value 1
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

freshness

e 2
Application

valu
Summary

t
limi
loss of
Microbiological compounds
degradation

increasing boundary layer resistance

time after harvest >>>>>>>

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal impact [C. VAN DIJK (2006)]
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness 6.5
+ Thermal

Compression slope x 10 3 (N.m-1

Impact
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the 4.0

Shelflife

Application 12°C
Summary 3°C
20°C
25°C
1.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Storage time (days)

Effect of storage time and temperature on the firmness

of tomatoes at 3°C; 12°C; 20°C and 25°C

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal impact [C. VAN DIJK (2006)]
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal
Impact
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

Application

Summary

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato

Thresholds

Modelling the cultivar ‘Counter‘

Stiffness
+ Thermal n= 432
Impact
+ Water Effect preharvest conditions 4 (salinity EC 2 resp. 9, CO2 400 resp. 1000ppm)
+ Preharvest
Influence packaging closed package (cp) open package (op)
Modelling the storage temperature [°C] 10 15 20 10 15 20
Shelflife
storage humidity [%] 98 98 98 78 45 43
Application
water vapour partial
Summary 0.25 0.34 0.47 2.7 9.01 13.3
pressure difference [hPa]
expert panel
ntomato= 40
Npanelist= 30
threshold of marketability
1 (sphere 7mm, Nmax 3N)
(Young‘s Modulus [Nmm-1])

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal impact
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal 2.5 preharvest condition 2/400
Impact initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
Youngs Modulus [N/mm]

+ Water Effect
YM = f(t) Adj R²~0.95
2.0
+ Preharvest
Influence 10°C_cp
10°C_op
Modelling the 1.5
Shelflife

Application
1.0
Summary

0.5

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25
time after harvest [d]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal 2.5 preharvest condition 2/400
Impact initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
Youngs Modulus [N/mm]

+ Water Effect
YM = f(t) Adj R²~0.95
2.0
+ Preharvest
Influence 10°C_cp
10°C_op
Modelling the 1.5
Shelflife

Application 15°C_cp
1.0
15°C_op
Summary

0.5 20°C_cp
20°C_op

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25
time after harvest [d]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal preharvest condition 2/400
Impact initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
+ Water Effect
YM = f(t;T)

+ Preharvest
Influence 2.5
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

op Adj R²=0.99
Modelling the (8d to 19 d)
Shelflife
2

Application 1.5

Summary
1

0.5 20
19
18
17 ]
0 8d 16 [ °C
15 e
5 19d 14 tur
13 e ra
10 12 mp
t i me a 15 11 et
e
fte r h 20 10 ag
arves 25 r
t [d] 30 s to

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal preharvest condition 2/400
Impact initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
+ Water Effect
YM = f(t;T)

+ Preharvest
Influence 2.5
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

op Adj R²=0.99
Modelling the (8d to 19 d)
Shelflife
2
cp Adj R²=0.96
Application 1.5 (13 d to 27 d)

Summary
1

0.5 20
19
18
17 ]
0 8d 16 e [ °C
15
5 13d 19d 14 tur
13 e ra
10 27d 12 mp
t i me a 15 11 et
e
fte r h 20 10 ag
arves 25 r
t [d] 30 s to

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal preharvest condition 2/400
Impact op Adj R²=0.99 cp Adj R²=0.96
initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
+ Water Effect YM = f(t;T)
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

2.5 2.5
Application
2 2
Summary
8d 13d
1.5 1.5

11d 1
1 9
1
18 9
17 8 18d 1 7
1 1 ] 1 1
1 6 15 6 °C]
5 19d 14 5 e [°C 5 27d 1 13 ure [
1 4
10 13 10
15 1
11 2 rat
ur 5
1 0 11 2 rat
time a 20 time a
fter ha 25
30
10 pe fter ha 2 25
30
1 0 pe
rvest [
d] tem rvest [
d] tem

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime
Thresholds
packaging closed package (cp) open package (op)
Modelling the
storage temperature [°C] 10 15 20 10 15 20
Stiffness
thermal impact [°C*h] condition 2/400 6480 6480 6240 4560 3960 3840
+ Thermal
Impact
op Adj R²=0.98 preharvest condition 2/400 cp Adj R²=0.94
+ Water Effect initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
+ Preharvest YM = f(t;T)
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife 2.5 2.5
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

Application
2 2
Summary

1.5 1.5
8d 13d
11d 18 18
1
0 19d
16 ]
14 [°C
1
0
18d14 16 ]
200 0 12 e 200 0 12 [°C
400 0 t ur 00
000 27d atu
r e
6 00 0 10 e r a t he r m al 4 10
000 mper
the r m al
im p a c t 800 temp im p a c t 6 8
[°C*h] [°C*h] te

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime [VPD=f(t;rH)]
Thresholds

Modelling the packaging closed package (cp) open package (op)

Stiffness storage temperature [°C] 10 15 20 10 15 20
+ Thermal VPD [hPa] 0.25 0.34 0.47 2.7 9.01 13.3
Impact thermal impact [°C*h] condition 2/400 6480 6480 6240 4560 3960 3840
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence preharvest condition 2/400
YM = f(t;T;VPD)
Modelling the Adj R² = 0.96
Shelflife

Application
2.5
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

Summary

1.5
13d 18d 27d
19d 2.5
1 11d 5
00 8d 7.5
20 4000 00 0 10
60 800 000 0 12.5 VPD ]
therm 1 0 200 000 15 [ hPa
al imp 1 14
act [°
C*h]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime [VPD=f(t;rH)] + Preharvest Influence
Thresholds

Modelling the packaging closed package (cp) open package (op)

Stiffness storage temperature [°C] 10 15 20 10 15 20
+ Thermal VPD [hPa] 0.25 0.34 0.47 2.7 9.01 13.3
Impact thermal impact [°C*h] condition 2/400 6480 6480 6240 4560 3960 3840
+ Water Effect thermal impact [°C*h] condition 2/1000 9600 9360 9600 6960 5040 4320
+ Preharvest
Influence preharvest condition 2/400 preharvest condition 2/1000
YM = f(t;T;VPD) YM = f(t;T;VPD)
Modelling the Adj R² = 0.96 Adj R² = 0.92
Shelflife

Application
2.5 2.5
Youngs Modulus [Nmm-1]

Summary

2 2

1.5 1.5
40d
13d 18d 27d
19d 2.5
29d 20d26d 2.5
11d 5 5
1 7.5
1 14d 7.5
00 8d 00 00 9d
20 4000 00 0 10 0
2 40 000 0 10
60 800 000 0 12.5 VPD ] 6 800 000 0 12.5 VPD a]
a
therm 0
10 120 400 0 15 [hP therm 10 1200 4000 15 [ hP
al imp 1 al imp 1
act [° act [°
C*h] C*h]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Shelf Life of tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime [VPD=f(t;rH)] + Preharvest Influence
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal
Impact preharvest condition 2/400
12000 12000
+ Water Effect
preharvest condition 2/1000
thermal_impact_MAX [°C*h]

+ Preharvest 10000 10000

Influence
Accuracy
Modelling the 8000 ± 0-3 days 8000
Shelflife
6000 6000
Application

Summary 4000 4000

2000 2000

0 0
0 5 10 15
VPD [hPa]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Shelf Life of tomato
Thermal Impact + Effect of Water Regime [VPD=f(t;rH)] + preharvest Influence
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal
Impact 12000 12000 preharvest condition 2/400
+ Water Effect
Thermal_Impact MAX [°C*h]

10000 10000 preharvest condition 2/1000

+ Preharvest
Influence
Accuracy
Modelling the 8000 ± 0-3 days 8000
preharvest condition 9/400

Shelflife preharvest condition 9/1000

6000 6000
Application

Summary 4000 4000

2000 2000

0 0
0 5 10 15
VPD [hPa]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Application

Thresholds
Farm Wholesale Retail
Retail
Modelling the Producer Cooperative Retail Consumer
Stiffness
+ Thermal
Impact
+ Water Effect
+ Preharvest
Influence

Modelling the
Shelflife

Application

Summary
Webserver/Database

Prediction-
Input: Output:
Control Model ƒ producer
ƒ produce
ƒ producer ƒ transportation conditions
Procedere 1 Procedere 1 ƒ quality
ƒ time
ƒ preharvest conditons ƒ shelf life
ƒ quality relevant parameters ƒ ...
= expected shelf life
ƒ ...

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Application

Thresholds

Modelling the Webserver / Database

Stiffness
Produce Tomato Protocoll
+ Thermal
Impact Cultivar Counter 7 0

+ Water Effect Cargo [Info] Info 96 %

+ Preharvest ... ...
Influence
tTransport [d] 10 15.9 °C
Modelling the Tmean [°C] 14.6 1 5

1 0 0 0
-5 0

Shelflife
0Tmax24 [K] 2
Prediction Model
Application rHmean [%] 98
12000
Summary VPD [hPa]: 0.32

Thermal_Impact MAX [°C*h]

Therm.Imp. [°C*h] 3500 10000
9000
Shelflifemax [°C*h] 9000 8000
Shelflifemax [d] 25
6000
Remaining
Shelf Life [d]
15
4000
3500
Talternativ [°C] 11 2000

Alternative
shelf life [d]
? 0
0
0.32 5 VPD [hPa] 10 15

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Application

Thresholds

Modelling the Webserver / Database

Stiffness
Produce Tomato Protocoll
+ Thermal
Impact Cultivar Counter 7 0

+ Water Effect Cargo [Info] Info 49 %

+ Preharvest ... ...
Influence
tTransport [d] 3 12.8 °C
Modelling the Tmean [°C] 11.5 1 5

1 0 0 0
-5 0

Shelflife
0Tmax24 [K] 1
Prediction Model
Application rHmean [%] 45
12000
Summary VPD [hPa]: 7.1

Thermal_Impact MAX [°C*h]

Therm.Imp. [°C*h] 864 10000

Shelflifemax [°C*h] 5000 8000

Shelflifemax [d] 17
6000
Remaining 5000
Shelf Life [d]
14
4000

Talternativ [°C] ? 2000

864
Alternative
Shelf Life [d]
7 0
0 5 VPD [hPa]
7.1 10 15

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Summary

Thresholds

Modelling the ƒ Wireless datalogger as well as active RFID tags can support quality
Stiffness
management and traceability in fresh produce supply chains
+ Thermal
Impact ƒ Knowledge about produce shelf life and quality are important and needed
+ Water Effect
ƒ Presentation of a data based system:
+ Preharvest
Influence
ƒ Decrease of stiffness as a function of easily measurable terms of
Modelling the time, temperature and water effects (VPD)
Shelflife
Stiffness = f ( thermal Impact (t,T), VPD (T, RH) )
Application

Summary ƒ Shelf Life as a function of thermal impact and water effects

Shelf Life = f ( thermal Impact (t,T), VPD (T, RH) )

ƒ Development of an applicable system for monitoring the needed

parameters in praxis and a practicable user interface

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Future Prospects

Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
ƒ Further Parameters to take into account :
+ Thermal
Impact ƒ fluctuation of temperature
+ Water Effect
ƒ fluctuation of air humidity
+ Preharvest
Influence
ƒ preharvest conditions and cultivar
Modelling the
Shelflife ƒ PAR in preharvest
Application ƒ …..
Summary

ƒ Thresholds for other varieties and produces

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

Thank you for your attention

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

16
14
total CO2 release [mgcm-1] 12
10
8
6 storage temperature
4 10°C
20°C
2 1016-208°C
0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
thermal impact [°C*h]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

Temperature characteristic and expected Shelf Life of broccoli in terms

of percentage as a function of thermal impact during the postharvest period

35

30
temperature [°C]

25

20

15

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 time140 160 [h] 180
after harvest
Harvest 100% ex yard 72.7% End-customer sale 39.6%

Picking 71.8%

Arrival Wholesale 72.2% Arrival Retail 69.6% Shelf stocking 62.9%

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato

packaging closed package (cp) open package (op)

storage temperature [°C] 10 15 20 10 15 20
Storage Humidity [%] 98 98 98 78 45 43
Watervapourpartial-
0.25 0.34 0.47 2.7 9.01 13.3
pressuredifference [hPa]
Threshold of Marketability
1
(Young‘s Modulus [Nmm-1])

preharvest condition condition 2/400

Time [d] 27 18 13 19 11 8
thermal impact [°C*h] 6480 6480 6240 4560 3960 3840

preharvest condition condition 2/1000

Time [d] 40 26 20 29 14 9
thermal impact [°C*h] 9600 9360 9600 6960 5040 4320

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions

Shelflife = f ( thermal Impact (t,T), VPD (T, RH) )

Shelflife = f ( thermal Impact (t,T), VPD (T, RH), 0T, 0RH )

Shelflife = f ( thermal Impact (t,T), VPD (T, RH), 0T, 0RH, Param (Produce) )

ColdChain 2008, Bonn

 Modelling the shelf life of fruit depending on
pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions
Introduction Modelling the Stiffness of Tomato
Thermal Impact
Thresholds

Modelling the
Stiffness
+ Thermal 2.5 preharvest condition 2/400
Impact initial stiffness ~ 2.5Nmm-1
Youngs Modulus [N/mm]

+ Water Effect
YM = f(t) Adj R²~0.95
2.0
+ Preharvest
Influence 10°C_cp
10°C_op
Modelling the 1.5
Shelflife

Application 15°C_cp
1.0
15°C_op
Summary

0.5

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25
time after harvest [d]

ColdChain 2008, Bonn