In the circulation process of fruit from picking to selling, packaging bags play a key role in maintaining fruit quality, reducing wastage and enhancing commodity value. Choosing the right fruit packaging bag requires comprehensive consideration from multiple dimensions such as fruit characteristics, packaging functions, and material characteristics. ​

1. Choose according to fruit characteristics

By type of breathing

Fruit can be divided into respiratory jump type and non-respiratory jump type. Fruits such as apples and bananas release a lot of ethylene during ripening, speeding up the ripening of their own and surrounding fruits. Therefore, such fruits are suitable for packaging bags that can adjust the gas composition, such as plastic film bags with micropores, which can moderately discharge ethylene and delay fruit ripening. And strawberries, grapes and other non-respiratory jump fruits are relatively insensitive to ethylene, pay more attention to the moisture of the packaging bag, can choose a certain breathable plastic box lined with absorbent paper packaging, both to maintain humidity, but also to avoid excessive humidity caused by rot. ​

Consider texture and shape

Soft and easily bruised fruits, such as peaches and blueberries, should choose a cushioning bag, such as a plastic bag with foam mesh cover, which can reduce collision damage during transportation. Fruits with irregular shapes, such as pineapples and cantaloupes, need the right size, shapeable packaging to ensure that the fruit is properly wrapped to prevent shaking and damage during transportation and storage. ​

2. Meet the functional requirements of packaging

Fresh-keeping function

The fruit packaging bag should have good fresh-keeping function and can adjust the gas composition and humidity in the bag. By filling the right amount of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases, the air conditioning bag can inhibit the respiration of the fruit and extend the fresh life. At the same time, some bags added desiccant or ethylene absorbent, can maintain the appropriate humidity in the bag, reduce the concentration of ethylene, delay the aging of fruit. ​

Identification and information transfer

The packaging bag should be clearly marked with the variety, origin, picking date, shelf life and other information of the fruit, so that consumers can understand the source and quality of the fruit and make purchase decisions. In addition, packaging bags with information such as eating methods and nutritional composition can also provide consumers with more consumption guidance. ​

3. consider the material characteristics

security

Packaging materials in direct contact with fruit must meet food safety standards, non-toxic, tasteless, and will not chemically react with the fruit to avoid the migration of harmful substances to the fruit. Common polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and other plastic materials, after strict testing, in line with food safety requirements, widely used in fruit packaging. ​

Environmental protection

With the improvement of environmental awareness, environmental factors are becoming more and more important in the selection of fruit packaging bags. Degradable materials become the ideal choice, such as biodegradable plastics, which can be decomposed by microorganisms into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide and water in the natural environment, effectively reducing the long-term pollution caused by the difficult degradation of traditional plastic packaging on soil and water bodies. Like polylactic acid (PLA) material, it is often used to make fruit packaging bags, which has good thermal stability and processing properties, can meet the packaging needs, while being environmentally friendly. ​

Paper materials are also favored for their environmental benefits. Paper packaging bags can be recycled and reused, and the energy consumption and pollutant emissions in the production process are relatively low. Moreover, paper sources are wide, such as trees, bamboo, etc., which is sustainable. Some paper fruit packaging bags are also printed with water-based ink, further reducing the harm to the environment. ​

When choosing fruit packaging bags, the recyclability of the packaging should also be considered. The packaging structure is designed to be easy to separate and recycle, such as reasonable combination of components of different materials to facilitate subsequent recycling. At the same time, reduce the number of unnecessary packaging layers and complex structures, reduce the difficulty of recycling, and improve resource utilization. Through these environmental measures, it not only helps to reduce the environmental burden, but also improves the social image of enterprises and conforms to the market trend of green consumption. ​

4. take into account cost effectiveness

When choosing fruit packaging bags, it is necessary to control costs under the premise of ensuring packaging quality and function. By comparing the price of different materials and specifications of packaging bags, choose cost-effective products. At the same time, considering the promotion role of packaging bags on fruit sales, high-quality packaging can enhance the commodity value of fruit, reduce losses, and maximize economic benefits. ​

The selection of fruit packaging bags is a comprehensive decision-making process, which needs to comprehensively weigh factors such as fruit characteristics, packaging functions, material characteristics and cost effectiveness to ensure the quality and value of fruits in the circulation process and promote the sustainable development of the fruit industry.