Blackberries
Recommended
Conventional cooling
Dynamic Cooling
Pre-cooling
De-greening
Ripening
General Tips for Blackberries
| Storage temperature | Relative Humidity (RH) | Duration | Pre-cooling | Sensitivity to ethylene | Ethylene Production | Controlled Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Storage temperature:
~ 0 °C (or as required by variety)
|
Relative Humidity (RH):
90%-95%
|
Duration:
Short-term (specific time depends on variety and pre-cooling)
|
Pre-cooling:
Rapid forced-air or tailored cooling system
|
Sensitivity to ethylene:
Moderate to High
|
Ethylene Production:
Low to Moderate
|
Controlled Atmosphere:
Not clearly defined; use standard cold-storage with attention to ventilation and gas control
|
Maintain very high humidity (90 %–95%) and uniform low temperature for maximal storage quality. |
Minimize air–product temperature differential (ΔT) using forced-air systems to ensure core cooling of the product mass. |
Ensure uniform air circulation and avoid accumulation of condensate or moisture pockets within the storage chamber. |
Use ozone equipment or proper disinfection of cold rooms to control microbial load and surface spoilage. |
Regularly monitor product colour, firmness and external surface condition — blackberries do not improve post-harvest and must be harvested fully ripe. |
IMPORTANT TIPS
- Harvest only fully ripe berries — quality will not improve after harvest.
- Ensure proper drying and surface handling immediately after harvest to prevent microbial growth.
- Maintain a consistent cold chain from harvest through to distribution; avoid temperature fluctuations and delays.
- Monitor external odours and ensure storage atmosphere is clean — blackberries are sensitive to off-smells.
- Consider rapid pre-cooling to remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest.