Design and Evaluation of a Ventilated Corrugated Cardboard Box for Papaya Fruit Transportation
How to cite (AJARCDE) :
Papaya is a horticultural commodity with considerable economic value and promising market potential. However, improper postharvest handling can damage fruit, particularly during distribution and transportation. Harvested papaya fruits are generally placed directly on the vehicle floor on a base of newspaper or tarpaulin. This practice may cause mechanical damage during transportation and increase postharvest losses. Cardboard boxes are expected to reduce mechanical damage; however, unventilated boxes may promote heat accumulation due to limited air exchange, affecting respiration rate and fruit quality. Therefore, this study aimed to design and evaluate a ventilated cardboard box to maintain papaya fruit quality during transportation. The cardboard box used in this study was a Regular Slotted Container (RSC) made of corrugated board, consisting of an outer packaging (41 × 31 × 22 cm) and an inner packaging (40 × 30 × 21 cm). Ventilation openings were designed to have a total area of 1% and 2% of the box wall area, while a box without ventilation served as the control. Each box contained 12 papaya fruits. We evaluated mechanical injury after transportation, visual damage, weight loss, respiration rate, and total soluble solids. The results showed that a ventilation area equivalent to 1% of the cardboard box wall area yielded the lowest numerically observed damage and maintained papaya fruit quality during transportation.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 1: No Poverty
[1] Agromedia, R. Buku Pintar Budi Daya Tanaman Buah Unggul Indonesia. Jakarta. Agromedia Pustaka. 296 hal. 2009
[2] Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi Sumatera Barat. Produksi Tanaman Hortikultura Provinsi Sumatera Barat 2024. Padang: Badan Pusat Statistik Provinsi Sumatera Barat. 2025.
[3] Thompson, A. K. Fruit and vegetables: Harvesting, handling and storage (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118653975. 2015.
[4] Yahia, E. M. (Ed.). Modified and controlled atmospheres for the storage, transportation, and packaging of horticultural commodities. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420069587. 2009.
[5] Ismaya, P.L., Faturochman, H.Y., Darmawati, E., dan Setyadjit. Perubahan Mutu Buah Pepaya Varietas IPB 9 (Calina) Selama Penyimpanan Pasca Simulasi Transportasi. Jurnal Teknologi Pangan dan Hasil Pertanian, 18(2): 39–46. https://doi.org/10.26623/jtphp.v18i2.7746. 2023.
[6] Rauf, A.S., Kasim, R., Dahlan, S.A., Saman, W.R., Ahmad, L., dan Engelen, A. Pengaruh Jenis Bahan Pengisi Kemasan pada Transportasi Darat terhadap Mutu Pepaya (Carica papaya L.) Selama Penyimpanan. Jambura Journal of Food Technology, 7(3): 453–460. 2025.
[7] Sukorini, H. dan Ishartati. Different Maturity Phases and Types of Wrapping Material on the Quality of Papaya Fruit (Carica papaya L.) Var. Calina. Malang: Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. 2024.
[8] Subedi, S., Subedi, G.D., Ghimire, D., Gautam, I.P., Khanal, S., Khatiwoda, P., dan Thapa, S. Effect of Wrapping Materials and Maturity Stages on Postharvest Loss Reduction of Papaya. Journal of Nepal Agricultural Research Council, 8: 7–15. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnarc.v8i.44811. 2022.
[9] Sutrisno, Darmawati, E., dan Sukmana, D. Rancangan Kemasan Berbahan Karton Gelombang untuk Individual Buah Manggis (Garcinia mangostana L.). Bogor: Institut Pertanian Bogor. 2011.
[10] Kader, A.A. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. 3rd Edition. Publication 3311. Oakland, CA: University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2002.
[11] Delele, M. A., Ngcobo, M. E. K., Getahun, S. T., Chen, L., Mellmann, J., & Opara, U. L. Studying airflow and heat transfer characteristics of a horticultural produce packaging system using a 3-D CFD model. Part II: Effect of package design. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 86, 546–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2013.08.015. 2013.
[12] Pathare, P.B., Opara, U.L., Vigneault, C., Delele, M.A., dan Al-Said, F.A. Design of Packaging Vents for Cooling Fresh Horticultural Produce. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 5(6): 2031–2045. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-012-0883-9. 2012.
[13] Sujiprihati, S. dan Suketi, K. Budi Daya Pepaya Unggul. Jakarta: Penebar Swadaya. 2009.
[14] Etefa Obse, F., Forsido Sirawdink, F., dan Kebede Mathewos, T. Postharvest Loss, Causes, and Handling Practices of Fruits and Vegetables in Ethiopia: Scoping Review. Journal of Horticultural Research, 30(1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2022-0002. 2022.
[15] Kefas, E., Aliyu, B., dan Tashiwa, Y. Postharvest Losses, Causes and Mitigation in Tomato Transportation: A Systematic Review. Journal of Horticulture and Postharvest Research, 7(3): 223–236. https://doi.org/10.22077/jhpr.2024.7460.1370. 2024.
[16] Kader, A.A. Increasing Food Availability by Reducing Postharvest Losses of Fresh Produce. Acta Horticulturae, 682: 2169–2176. 2025.
[17] Ge, C. A review and update of the corrugated fibreboard cushioning. Packaging Technology and Science, 35(9): 701–715. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2687. 2022.
[18] Wang, D.M., Gong, H., dan Bai, Z. Effect investigation of relative humidity and temperature on multi-layer corrugated sandwich structures. Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials, 15(2): 156–167. 2013.
[19] Kusniati, D. Kajian pengaruh tipe ventilasi dan suhu penyimpanan terhadap perubahan mutu buah alpukat (Persea americanaMills) dan sebaran suhu dalam kemasan. [Skripsi]. Bogor. Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian. Institut Pertanian Bogor. 84 hal. 2011.
[20] Pesis, E., Aharoni, D., Aharon, Z., Ben-Arie, R., Aharoni, N., & Fuchs, Y. Modified atmosphere and modified humidity packaging alleviates chilling injury symptoms in mango fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 19(1), 93–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5214(00)00080-6. 2000.
[21] Fahmy, K., Nakano, K. Optimal design of modified atmosphere packaging for alleviating chilling injury in cucumber fruit. Environmental Control in Biology 52, 233–240. https://doi.org/10.2525/ecb.52.233. 2014.
[22] Fahmy, K., & Nakano, K. Influence of relative humidity on development of chilling injury of cucumber fruits during low temperature storage. Asia Pacific Journal of Sustainable Agriculture Food and Energy (APJSAFE), 1(1), 1–5. http://journal.bakrie.ac.id/index.php/APJSAFE. 2013.
[23] Kusuma, S.U. Rancangan Kemasan Tunggal Pada Buah Pepaya (Carica papaya L.) Varietas IPB 9 (Callina) dengan Bahan Pengisi Selama Proses Distribusi.[Skripsi]. Bogor. Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian. Institut Pertanian Bogor. 51 hal. 2014.
[24] Rahmawati. Peningkatan Kinerja Pengemasan Pisang Ambon (Musa paradisiaca L.) Selama Transportasi Dengan Penataan Posisi Pisang Dan Jenis Bahan Pengisi. [Skripsi]. Bogor. Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian. Institut Pertanian Bogor. 82 hal. 2010.
[25] Jiang, Y., Nie, Y., Pan, Y., Li, X., Liu, H., & Tao, S. Enhanced cyanide-resistant respiration as the predominant respiratory metabolic pathway in abnormal chilling injury behavior of postharvest papaya. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 205, 112505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2023.112505. 2023.
[26] Shattir, A. E., & Abu-Goukh, A. A. Compositional changes during papaya fruit ripening. University of Khartoum Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.53332/uofkjas.v20i1.1904. 2023.
[27] Matsuane, C., Kavoo, A.M., Kiage, B.N., Karanja, J., dan Rimberia, F.K. Quality Changes in Papaya Fruit Under Different Storage Temperatures and Duration. Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology, 22(3): 64–78. 2023.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.