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Has files: NoSubject: search.filters.subject.300806 Post harvest horticultural technologies (incl. transportation and storage)

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    An integrated experimental and numerical approach to understand and address airflow and cooling variation in refrigerated shipping containers with kiwifruit pallets : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 16 December 2026.
    (Massey University, 2024-11-26) Alaka, Abdulquadri
    New Zealand's kiwifruit industry has been the most significant contributor to the country’s horticultural export value for many years. Despite facing recent unseasonable weather conditions and labour shortage challenges, the kiwifruit industry contributed approximately 38.5 % to New Zealand's total horticultural export value in 2023. NZ kiwifruit and other horticultural produce earnings largely come from distant markets such as Europe, Japan and China, representing one of the longest supply chains in the world. NZ's expanding kiwifruit export volume heavily relies on refrigerated containers to preserve and maintain fruit quality along the supply chain. This is vital to ensure that the industry continues supplying its overseas customers with high-quality products and attracting significant export earnings. Refrigerated containers are designed to maintain cargo temperature throughout transit. However, sub-optimal airflow distribution inside containers when fully loaded with pallets of fruit often results in temperature variation within the cargo. Unfortunately, such temperature variation comes with a significant economic disadvantage as it results in fruit losses via chilling and, or freezing injury as well as senescence. It also leads to variations in the quality of fruit of the same batches, complicating inventory management along the supply chain. Improving the airflow distribution within stowed refrigerated containers can go a long way in improving temperature or cooling uniformity within the system. This project combined experimental and computational approaches to understand and improve airflow and cooling uniformity inside containers stowed with kiwifruit pallets.--Shortened abstract
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    Application of UV-C technology in extending the shelf life of fresh blueberries : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 1st August 2027
    (Massey University, 2024) Akram, Sidra
    Fresh blueberry fruit is highly perishable and susceptible to spoilage by bacteria and fungi resulting in a short postharvest shelf life. Ultraviolet light treatment (UV-C) in the range is considered an emerging novel food processing technique that can be used to improve fruit quality and thus prolong the shelf life. The study investigated the impact of UV-C light treatment on untreated fresh blueberry farthing variety. The study was conducted in three phases to analyse and optimize the most suitable dosages to be applied to the sample and determine its effects on the fruit sample during the 14 days of storage at 4°C. The fruit sample was collected from a local blueberry farm and transported to the Massey University, Auckland campus. In phase one, the fresh blueberry fruit was treated with different dosages of UV-C (50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600 mJ/cm²) using a JouleSafe disinfection system. Focus group sensory evaluation was used to analyse the consumer acceptance of the UV-C treated fruit alongside the microbial enumeration to narrow down the range of dosages.--Shortened abstract.
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    Ethylene related ripening of 'SunGold™' kiwifruit : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 31 January 2026.
    (Massey University, 2020) Tongonya, Jeritah
    A key component of the success of the New Zealand kiwifruit industry is the consistent provision of high-quality produce. The projected increase in kiwifruit volumes necessitates the widening of harvest and marketing windows. Two different kiwifruit export marketing strategies are currently deployed: i) Early season fruit are delivered for immediate sale (‘KiwiStart’), ii) later season fruit have a maturity that enables extended postharvest cool storage (‘MainPack’). These marketing strategies determine harvest criteria and subsequent postharvest management practices employed in the supply cool chain. The introduction of new cultivars, e.g. ‘SunGold™’, necessitates a re-evaluation of the postharvest ripening and storage practices, tuning the requirements to the specific responses of each cultivar. Since there is minimal information on ethylene related responses for ‘SunGold™’, research to develop a fundamental understanding of these responses is crucial for optimal management and performance of the product in the market. The purpose of this PhD is to determine the effect of industry-relevant ethylene concentrations on ‘SunGold™’ quality progression (firmness and soluble solids content (SSC)). With that understanding, a semi-mechanistic model for the simultaneous description of firmness decline and soluble solids increase under dynamic temperature conditions and ethylene concentrations was developed.--Shortened abstract