Quality changes in organic tomatoes packaged in biodegradable plastic films

Quality changes in organic tomatoes stored in four biodegradable packages and in LDPE-bags at 11 +/- 1C and 75-85% RH were studied for three weeks. Organic tomatoes were packed in perforated LDPE-bags and the following biodegradable packages: a perforated Mater-Bi-(R)-bag, a Biopol((R))-coated paperboard tray overwrapped with a perforated Mater-Bi ((R))-bag, a polylactide coated paperboard tray overwrapped with a perforated Mater-Bi-(R)-bag, and a perforated cellophane bag. The tomatoes were analyzed for weight loss, moisture content, color, firmness and flavor. Package type had no significant influence on the tomatoes' sensory quality, whereas storage time significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the fruits' color, flavor and firmness. The tomatoes' firmness decreased, their redness (a*value) increased and their flavor diminished during storage. The tomatoes lost more of their weight in biodegradable packages than in LDPE packages.