Transit Temperatures and Arrival Condition of California Lettuce and Table Grapes Shipped to the Far East

Excerpts from the report: Export of lettuce and table grapes from California to Far Eastern markets has increased steadily over the last 10 years. As the volume of exported commodities increases, the need to reduce losses and maintain quality during ocean transport be- comes increasingly important. The specific objectives of our shipping test with lettuce were as follows: (1) to determine transit temperatures in van container loads of lettuce; (2) to measure O2 and C02 levels in lettuce loads, with and without initial atmosphere modification; (3) to determine the effects of these variables on the arrival condition of the product; and (4) to observe general handling techniques used in transit and in foreign distribution systems. The objectives of the grape test were as follows: (1) to measure transit temperatures in palletized loads of grapes packed in the polystyrene foam boxes, (2) to determine O2 and C02 levels in palletized loads of grapes, (3) to determine the amount of berry shatter and decay on arrival, and (4) to observe general handling techniques and distribution methods at destination.