Pengaruh Kemasan Terhadap Mutu Fisik Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) Selama Simulasi Transportasi

Abstract

Distribution of baby corn from farmers to distributors in the market is generally transported using polyethylene plastic (25 kg/pack) with less consideration of its quality during the transportation. This condition causes baby corn often suffer from physical damages, such as broken and cracked. The purpose of this research was to study the influences of packaging materials on the mechanical damage and physical properties of baby corn during simulated transportation with addition of 8 days storage. Within this study, packaging materials chosen (considered as treatments) were: (i) combination between crates and polyethylene plastic, (ii) cardboard and polyethylene plastic, (iii) solely crates, and (iv) cardboard. Simulation was carried out at 2 hours transportation. The use of polyethylene plastic is capable of pressed the mechanical damage and reduced weight. The quantified physical parameters were mechanical damage, reduced weight, hardness, total dissolved solids and moisture content. Therefore, based on the reduced weight test and in combination with analysis of variance, the suitable packaging material for transporting baby corn was the one which combined from cardboard and polyethylene plastic.