Packaging, preservation and storage of fresh flowers

Editor's note: In the modern ornamental gardening industry, the production and sale of flowers in different places is becoming more and more common. The production and sales of flowers are continuously becoming internationalized. Therefore, the demand for post-harvest packaging, storage, transportation and preservation is getting higher and higher. Transport and preservation technologies are increasingly important. For many varieties of flowers, the preservation of cut flowers and ornamental plants is an important part of product sales. The purpose of storage is to prolong its viewing period and maintain a good quality. This is particularly important for cut flowers and potted flowers, as it is often necessary to keep them for a few days or weeks after harvesting, while meeting the standards of the local or international flower market. At present, the export volume of flowers in China is also increasing year by year. Many flower producers also recognize the importance of post-harvest packaging, storage and transportation of flowers.

Based on this excellent business opportunity, we talk about flowers in this issue. Packaging, preservation and storage of knowledge, hope to have a certain reference value for related industries.

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Flower packaging, preservation and storage

For flower sellers, to achieve good market value, we must try to extend the post-harvest life of flowers. As far as possible, we can maintain a good level of flowers from the producer to the consumer. To achieve this, we must start from the harvesting process and adopt special pre-harvest and post-harvest preservation treatments, such as treatment with various chemicals. , light treatment, pre-cooling, etc., until reaching the hands of consumers. To master the storage and transportation technology, we should focus on the following aspects of the work.

(a) pre-treatment of flowers before packaging Harvesting

Cut flowers should be harvested at a suitable time. Harvesting too early or too late will affect the ornamental life of cut flowers. Under the premise of guaranteeing flowering, it should be harvested as soon as possible.

2. Rating

The cut flowers after harvest must be classified according to a certain standard due to their uneven quality. The classification is based on the length of the pedicel, the quality and size of the flowers, the degree of opening, the number of florets, the condition of the leaves, etc. Generally speaking, for the cut flowers, the thicker and longer the flower stalks are, the better the quality of the products is. For example, the classification standards for chrysanthemum, carnation and gladiolus in the United States are shown in the table:

3. Pre-storage and storage

Flowers harvested from the greenhouse should be pretreated as soon as possible to maintain the quality of flowers. Preprocessing includes the following steps.

Postharvest Conditioning After the flower stem leaves the plant, it will appear wilting due to moisture loss. To make flowers have a good shape, they should be put into water as soon as possible after they are harvested for conditioning to prevent loss of flower moisture and cause wilting.

Pretreatment Before the packaging is stored and transported, the base of the stem is soaked with a short-term chemical solution containing sugar, called pretreatment. It can achieve such a number of purposes: First, to improve the flowering quality and prolong the flowering period; Second, to allow the flowering buds to be harvested normally open, the third is to ensure the open quality after transportation or storage. Pretreatment often uses sucrose and silver thiosulphate. For example, a rose can be treated with about 10% sucrose at 20°C for 4 hours.

Pre-cooling
Pre-cooling is to quickly remove field heat before transport or storage. For highly perishable crops, such as cut flowers, pre-cooling is necessary. The higher the temperature, the faster the decay occurs, and the lower the transpiration rate of the crop at low temperatures. Therefore, pre-cooling before packaging, storage and transportation, and removal of field heat and respiratory heat can greatly reduce the decay and wilting during transportation. The faster the product is put into the ideal storage temperature after harvest, the longer it will be stored.

(b) Packaging of flowers

Packaging method Flowers used for consumption after precooling should be packaged. The purpose of packaging is to minimize mechanical damage or water loss during transportation, and to maintain an optimal fresh state. The selected packaging should be as suitable as possible for the product, transportation method, and market. Whether the packaging is ideal, that is whether the product is better protected to meet the transport, processing and storage requirements determine the success of its commercial operations.

Ornamental plants are living tissues and experience limited life periods. Cut flowers, in particular, are less resistant to damage than potted plants. The mechanical damages associated with transportation, processing and loading are: impact, drop, compaction and vibration. Packaging should minimize damage and negative effects.

In recent years, many flower producing countries have strengthened their research on packaging materials and dimensions. According to the variety of flowers, storage and transportation methods, using a variety of packaging facilities and packaging methods. In general, various packaging purposes should minimize mechanical damage or water loss during storage and transportation. Keep the best bulge pressure to prevent mechanical damage. There are two common storage methods: dry storage and wet storage. Wet storage is to immerse the stem of flowers in a container full of water or protective liquid, which can maintain sufficient moisture in flowers, but it is difficult to transport. This method is suitable for short-term storage and transportation, can maintain the form of flowers and prevent mechanical damage. However, transportation requires more equipment and costs more. Some cut flowers (Carnation, Lily, Gerbera, Snapdragon) can be stored for several weeks in wet storage. Can not be applied in mass transportation in actual transportation.

In actual production, the most widely used is dry storage. Various types of packaging boxes are used for dry storage or transportation of cut flowers, and proper dry packaging can prevent the loss of moisture in flowers. The humidity of the package is ensured by the wax layer packed in the box or by providing various types of foil film. Most of the packaging materials are suitable for soft plastics, mainly low-density polyethylene plastic film, high-density polyethylene plastic film and polypropylene plastic film. Tests have shown that high-density polyethylene plastic film works best and lasts for the longest time. If the bag is filled with O2 absorbent or coolant (ice), the preservation effect will be better. The dry storage method is often used for long-term storage, such as carnations, chrysanthemums, and it has a better effect than wet storage during flowering, and it has a longer shelf life. After storage, flower bud opening requires proper promotion of flowering solution. It can also be stored well in gas-tight polyethylene bags. In these packages, flower breathing creates a controlled atmosphere (MA). The O2 concentration is decreased and the CO2 concentration is increased, which prolongs the storage period.

The size of the packaging box should also be considered to save both storage and transportation space, but also to ensure adequate ventilation to prevent flower failure. Many foreign flower manufacturers have improved the size of the packing box, such as Israel. The packing box as shown in the figure can not only allow cold air to pass through the packing box, but also save the transportation space (such as the use of right-angled boxes, ventilation, and the need for containers. At a distance).

Precautions in the packaging (1) The image of the flower itself cannot be damaged There is no provision that “only if the flower is beautiful.” The packaging only plays a supporting role. The main body is the flower itself, so the image of the flower itself cannot be damaged during the packaging process.

(2) To meet the customer's requirements When packaging, not only meet the customer's requirements, but also consider the age, gender, and hobby of the party receiving the gift.

(3) Combining time, place, purpose, atmosphere, etc. Before packaging, we must first understand the purpose of the customer's delivery of flowers. Congratulations are used to express love, or to visit patients. Different situations require different packaging.

(4) can not be limited to their own skilled packaging methods can not only use their own most skilled methods, this will not only not progress, but will be more and more far away from the popular. It is necessary to choose a packaging method that conforms to popular trends and strive to create new packaging methods based on this.

(5) Try to keep the flowers fresh while they are being transported and prevent them from being damaged.
The fresh flowers of the bouquets need to be kept fresh. Before the bouquets are made, the flowers are soaked in the containers with the preservatives. When packing, consider the length of time that flowers need to be transported after packing and the distance between them. To ensure that the water wrapped under the stem does not flow out during transport, choose a package that maintains the freshness of the flower for a long time.

(6) To spend more effort on the cost Although the commercial nature of flowers is improved, not all flowers are more gorgeous. Excessive packaging will increase costs, so you should take good care of it and don't waste it.

(7) Flexible use of various decorations

(8) Be sure to review the whole again after completion

(9) To inform customers of the essentials and maintenance methods for flowers delivery. To complete the package, the customer should be informed of the essentials, methods of transportation, maintenance knowledge, etiquette, etc., and a small bag of fresh-keeping agent can be given free of charge. Customers, in order to extend the flowering period, high quality flower baskets and bouquets will attract customers to buy again.
Florist's Precautions When Packaging Flowers
Cut flower packaging and processing
Rose's "Box Package"

(3) Ways and Methods of Keeping Freshness

1 To keep fresh flowers as long as possible, not