Green beans when harvested are still in the growing stage of development and are highly perishable. Chilling injury to beans will occur when storage temperatures are 5ºC or below. The most common quality test for beans, is the 'snap' test. Beans are also subjected to damage by surface pitting and russeting which is aggravated by the presence of free moisture, especially on produce in the centre of cartons. It is generally recommended that the best method for pre-cooling beans following harvest is using hydro-cooling. It is important that the water used for hydro-cooling contain a fungicide so as to prevent the spread of disease.
Packaging Method:
Beans are normally packed in five and 10 kilo boxes and it is important that they be palletised for refrigerated storage to allow maximum air flow through the box ventilation holes. Beans should be packed in a Peakfresh carton liner with the top of the liner folded and not sealed. It is essential that beans be properly pre-cooled before packaging into Peakfresh so as to reduce their respiration rate. In areas where beans are likely to be subject to changes in temperature, such as in freighting and handling, we recommend the placement of additional ventilation holes in the Peakfresh carton liner.
Recommended Post Harvest Temperatures:
Around 7ºC (43ºF) and 95% relative humidity.
IMPORTANT. Please read. All recommendations for the use of Peakfresh products are given in good faith and based on proven field experience. Packaging method storage temperatures and humidity levels, transit and destination conditions are factors likely to affect the performance of Peakfresh products and no liability for indirect or consequential damage can be accepted. We recommend that Peakfresh products be trialed under local conditions before introduction to large scale commercial applications.
