Youn-Suk Lee

Application of Different Packaging Methods and Materials for Comparing Freshness of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) harvested in Summer Season

Effects of different packaging methods for maintaining the shelf life and postharvest quality of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were studied after harvesting in summer season. Lettuce heads were packaged in plastic crate with or without different films such as (A) Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film; (B) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with LLDPE film; (C): Individual lettuce head sealed packaging with perforated high density polyethylene (HDPE) film; (D) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate and wrapped with perforated HDPE; and (E) Packaging lettuce head in plastic crate without any film (control), and stored at 2°C for 35 days. Several quality parameters such as fresh weight loss, SPAD (soil & plant analyzer development) meter value, respiration rate, moisture content and appearance of lettuce were investigated. The lettuce wrapped with individually-sealed LLDPE film showed the lowest weight loss and the highest SPAD value rendering the best appearance index among the treataments throughout the three-week storage period at 2C. Extending the freshness of iceberg lettuce during low temperature storage will definitely increase the salability potential in the domestic market even during summer season.