INFLUENCE OF FAST COLD CHAIN AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING STORAGE ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF EARLY SEASON-HARVESTED SWEET CHERRIES

The effects of fast cold chain alone and combination with modified atmosphere-modified humidity packaging (MA/MH) on the fruit quality, the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), polygalacturonase (PG), individual sugars, organic acids and total anthocyanin amount of early-harvested "0900 Ziraat" sweet cherries were investigated after 8 days of cold storage at 0C and subsequent 2 days of ambient temperature storage (simulating shelf life). Results showed that, combination treatment with fast cold chain and MA/MH packaging decreased the weight losses, fruit elasticity, pitting amount, PG, PPO activities, stem visual appearance and preserved the fruit's initial quality better than the controls after the studied storage times. We determine that using MA/MH packaging, even in a short distribution chain circumstances, will protect the quality of early-harvested crops throughout their shelf life.