How

Respiration of Fruits and Vegetables and Maintaining Freshness

Controlling respiration activity plays a crucial role in maintaining the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Respiration is the process by which post-harvest fruits and vegetables take in oxygen to generate energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water in the process. As respiration progresses, energy and nutrients are consumed, leading to a decline in quality.

The respiration rate of fruits and vegetables varies by type. For example, fruits like avocados and bananas have high respiration rates and ripen quickly. In contrast, apples and potatoes have relatively low respiration rates and can be stored for longer periods.

Respiration activity increases with higher temperatures, making low-temperature storage recommended. For instance, apples and broccoli retain their freshness longer when stored at 0°C. However, some fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and bananas, are sensitive to low temperatures and may deteriorate in quality if refrigerated.

A high-humidity environment helps prevent moisture loss in fruits and vegetables, aiding in preserving their freshness. Generally, a relative humidity of 90% to 95% or higher is ideal. Specific storage conditions are available on the websites of agricultural departments and related organizations in various countries (e.g., USDA, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, University of Maine, NARO).

General Storage Conditions

1. Apples: 0°C, 90-95% RH

2. Lettuce: 0°C, 95-100% RH

3. Tomatoes: 13-16°C, 85-90% RH

4. Broccoli: 0°C, 95-100% RH

5. Strawberries: 0°C, 90-95% RH

6. Potatoes: 7-10°C, 90-95% RH

Additionally, some fruits and vegetables emit ethylene gas, which can accelerate the respiration activity of surrounding produce. Fruits and vegetables that are highly sensitive to ethylene gas (such as apples, bananas, and tomatoes) should be stored separately from other produce, or technology that can extract ethylene gas becomes essential.

Maintaining appropriate storage conditions helps control respiration and moisture loss, minimizing spoilage and preserving freshness. Since ethylene gas can accelerate the ripening and spoilage of nearby produce, it is crucial to store ethylene-sensitive fruits and vegetables separately or use technology capable of extracting ethylene gas.

Industry Challenges and Our Solutions

Traditional coolers use finned tubes where refrigerant passes through, resulting in low heat exchange per unit volume, which leads to insufficient air cooling and poor humidity control. The dry air exiting the cooler further affects humidity levels.

Moreover, to achieve cold air below 5°C, the refrigerant's evaporation temperature drops below freezing, causing frost to form on the surface of the heat exchange tubes. When using a humidifier to adjust humidity, the added water vapor freezes, making humidity control difficult.

Cool Innovation's technology effectively controls humidity by absorbing excess moisture and evaporating it as needed. With special structured heat exchange surface area, our system ensures efficient heat exchange, circulating moist, cooled air evenly throughout the storage space.

For detailed experimental results and achievements with fresh produce, please visit the Results page.

Comparison with Multiple Refrigeration Technologies

Practicality and Features of Cool Innovation Products

Our subscription service not only allows customers to use our solutions according to their needs but also reduces initial investment costs, thereby shortening the decision-making period and enabling quick responses to market demands.

We offer a range of products, including small experimental refrigerators, land/sea containers, and cooling units for large refrigerated warehouses. There are no size restrictions for warehouses, and by adding our cooling units according to the volume, you can extend the freshness preservation period of fresh produce by more than 10 times*, reduce energy consumption by 50%, and create a storage space that allows for free opening, closing, and mixed storage.

For more details on our products, please visit the Service page.

Inquiries and Requests

Cool Innovation is seeking collaborative partners, academic institutions, government agencies, agricultural stakeholders, and food manufacturers to utilize, promote, and research our innovative solutions for maintaining the freshness of fruits and vegetables.

Our advanced technology not only addresses the global issue of food loss but also enables a shift from air transport to sea transport, significantly reducing costs and CO2 emissions.

With successful case studies in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, our technology, which guarantees reliable ROI through a subscription model, achieves 10 times* better freshness preservation compared to existing methods (*duration varies by product).

We would be delighted to work with you to reform the fresh produce supply chain and contribute to a more sustainable future.

For any questions or requests, please fill out all necessary details in the inquiry form and provide as much detail as possible about your needs. We will respond promptly and contact you regarding specific needs and solutions. Thank you.