Towards integrated performance evaluation of future packaging for fresh produce in the cold chain

Optimising ventilated packaging for fresh horticultural produce will play a key role in making future food cold chains more energy-smart and resource-efficient in a cost-effective way. Package performance analysis currently lacks an integrated approach for simultaneous and quantitative evaluation of product cooling rate, box ventilation, product quality and shelf life, box mechanical strength and energy consumption of the ventilation system. This article provides an overview of recent research on these package functionalities and summarises the performance parameters used to quantify them. Novel developments in experimental and computational tools are highlighted and various trade-offs encountered in package design are illustrated with case studies. Future perspectives point towards a more holistic evaluation of packaging throughout the entire cold chain.