FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR APY LANDS COMMUNITIES

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1 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR APY LANDS COMMUNITIES Impact of adopting commercially available technologies for the control of ethylene throughout the supply chain Community stores located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara (APY Lands) are supplied with fresh fruit and vegetables from Adelaide via Alice Springs. The supply chain servicing the APY Lands Community stores spans over 2000 kilometres and takes six days from the time produce leaves the Adelaide Produce Market to when it is delivered to the furthest store. Most community stores receive a delivery of perishable goods once per week. A wide range of produce is transported together and in any given delivery it is normal to have a combination of ethylene producing and ethylene sensitive commodities being transported in the one refrigerated compartment. It is likely that ethylene sensitive products, for example lettuce, broccoli and cucumbers, are being exposed to ethylene, produced by such commodities as apples, bananas and mangoes, during storage and transport. How best to control ethylene in the APY Lands supply chain A review of existing technologies or products for the control of ethylene identified absorbent sachets and filters as the most suitable option for use in the supply chain from Adelaide to the APY Lands. The potassium permanganate impregnated ethylene absorbers, either in sachet form or as filters fitted to the air circulation system, reduce ethylene levels inside coldrooms, containers or product packaging and are particularly useful in situations where product separation is not possible.

2 Evaluation of ethylene absorber sachets and filters Testing of both absorber sachets and filters was carried out on the supply chain between the Adelaide Produce Market and two community stores in the APY Lands between the 31 st March and the 19 th July The impact on the quality of broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes and basil arriving at the APY Lands was assessed. EC-Power Pellet sachets (28g) supplied by Sud-Chemie were assessed for control of ethylene inside cartons of produce during three deliveries to the Amata Community store and two to the Pipalyatjara Community store. Each delivery contained cartons of produce without sachets for comparison. Yellowing of broccoli as a result of exposure to ethylene Pre-delivery assessment of produce quality was conducted by SARDI staff on each commodity at the point where products were being consolidated onto pallets at the Adelaide Produce Markets. APY Lands Community store managers carried out postdelivery assessment at the point where the products were being unpacked at the two community stores in the APY Lands. A SARDI researcher travelled to the APY Lands to carry out the postdelivery assessments at both stores on one occasion. Russet spotting of lettuce caused by exposure to ethylene Adelaide Produce Markets EC-Filters (46 x 18 x 5 cm) supplied by Sud-Chemie were evaluated for ethylene control within coolrooms and trucks during three deliveries to the Amata Community store and one to the Pipalyatjara Community store. Produce from these deliveries was compared to produce from deliveries without filters. APY Lands Community Stores 2

3 What was the impact of using absorber sachets or filters to control ethylene in the supply chain? No evidence was found of a reduction in visual quality of fresh produce (lettuce, broccoli, basil, tomatoes) as influenced by ethylene exposure in the deliveries monitored. This is despite produce being stored outside the ideal temperature regime for extended periods and being exposed to ethylene via exhaust and ethylene producing commodities. Visual quality of produce (lettuce, broccoli, basil, tomatoes) as assessed on arrival at APY Lands Community stores was not significantly affected by the inclusion of EC-Power Pellet sachets in cartons in comparison to untreated cartons. Visual quality of produce (lettuce, broccoli, basil, tomatoes) as assessed on arrival at the APY Lands Community stores was not significantly affected by the installation of EC filters in storage environments throughout the supply chain. These results do not imply that the ethylene control products were ineffective. Simply, there was no evidence of ethylene related disorders on the produce assessed in any of the deliveries monitored, regardless of whether ethylene control products were included or not. It should be recognised that at points in the existing supply chain there are practices that help to prevent the build-up of ethylene, i.e. ventilation and product separation. Store managers reported that they had previously seen ethylene damage (as per photographs provided to them of symptoms) on broccoli, lettuce, cucumber and cabbage, but mainly in the summer months. If measures that controlled ethylene in the supply chain had been taken during these deliveries, then the produce would not have suffered ethylene damage. EC-Power Pellet Sachet Adelaide Produce Markets APY Lands Community No EC-Power Pellet Broccoli quality on arrival at the APY Lands was similar with or without the inclusion of ethylene Issues in the supply chain other than ethylene that influenced produce quality Temperature is the most critical issue in retaining the quality of produce. Temperature also influences the sensitivity of produce to ethylene, and thus temperature management within the supply chain was monitored in all deliveries. Temperature data loggers were used to record the temperature of produce and the transport/storage environment. 3

4 Temperature management difficulties associated with mixed loads Transport of a mixed load in the one compartment makes it almost impossible to achieve correct conditions for all products. In the supply chain assessed, certain produce types, such as tomatoes and basil, were exposed to low temperatures that contribute to chilling injury, while other products, such as lettuce, were handled at above ideal temperatures that reduce the product s shelf life. Chilling injury of basil Options for consideration: The use of thermal blankets, insulated boxes or barriers, allowing greater temperature differentials to be maintained between products in the refrigerated compartment. The use of pallet-sized selfcontained temperature regulated transport compartments. Isolating deliveries of frozen goods from chilled produce, i.e. use of multi-temperature vans. Pre-cooling is important part of supply chain temperature management Refrigerated transport compartments are designed to maintain temperature of a product, not to cool it down. It was noted that in some instances product was not correctly pre-cooled prior to entering the supply chain and as a result the temperature of the produce remained above optimal throughout the supply chain. For example, core temperature readings of lettuce taken prior to departure on nine separate days ranged from 1 C to 12.7 C. Technologies and/or methods that give transport operators within this supply chain the flexibility to meet differing temperature requirements of perishable products transported in the one load are required. This is particularly the case where the same vehicle transports frozen and chilled goods, such as between Alice Springs and the APY Lands Community stores. During the trial, on more than one occasion, basil and lettuce suffered freezing injury in the supply chain, which rendered the product unsaleable. 4

5 Post delivery storage has an impact This trial focussed on the supply chain rather than on post delivery storage. Some of the produce delivered is held for longer at the community stores than it spends in transit from Adelaide to the APY Lands. As many of the community stores customers shop daily for their food items and deliveries are only received once per week, the coolrooms at the community stores are used to store a wide range of fresh produce (ethylene producing and ethylene sensitive) for one week or more. This increases the time of exposure of ethylene sensitive produce to ethylene and the installation of ethylene absorbing filters in the coolrooms of community stores may be beneficial. Temperatures in the storage coolrooms of the Amata Community store and the Pipalyatjara Community store were monitored. The average air temperature of 3.9 C recorded for both storage coolrooms is within expectations. However, this temperature is not ideal for the longerterm storage of chilling sensitive fresh produce such as tomatoes and basil. Chilling damage is cumulative, thus storage in the stores coolrooms can contribute to the risk of developing chilling injury, even though the visual symptoms are often not obvious until the product is placed at room temperature. Recommendations Based on results of the trials carried out, adopting the use of ethylene absorbent sachets or filters in the existing supply chain from the Adelaide Produce Market to the Amata and Pipalyatjara Community stores would not be expected to deliver major improvements to the quality of produce upon arrival. It is recognised that managers of the APY Lands Community stores have noticed symptoms consistent with ethylene damage in the past, even though they did not occur in the deliveries monitored in this trial. The installation of ethylene absorbing filters in the coolrooms of the community stores may provide benefits in produce quality, based on the temperature conditions, storage time and the mix of produce held. Temperature management is a substantial issue in the supply chain and improvements in temperature management would deliver improved quality of produce. Technologies should be investigated that may assist to better manage temperature, especially where frozen and chilled products are carried in the one load. For further information or for a copy of the full report, contact the South Australian Freight Council Inc. 5

6 Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the assistance of all participants involved in the supply chain for fresh produce from Adelaide to the APY Lands Community stores. Without their cooperation, time and assistance the trial would not have been possible. Support for the trial by Nganampa Health is appreciated along with their advice and assistance. The funding support of the South Australian Freight Council is gratefully acknowledged. Prepared by Michael Rettke and Tim Pitt, SARDI. The South Australian Freight Council Inc. is proudly supported by both the Federal and State Governments. Disclaimer: While all reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, South Australian Freight Council Inc., the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) do not accept any liability for editorial errors or omissions or for any damage resulting from this. March 2007 Copyright of the South Australian Research and Development Institute,