Blueberries are a popular ‘superfruit’ with global consumption continuing to increase, and in 2023, more than 45% of world production was exported. A shelf life of up to three months means they can be stored below 5°C for up to seven weeks, making them suitable for long-distance transport. However, blueberries are not completely resistant to spoilage and factors including sun exposure, the time taken to chill and the atmosphere, can all have a detrimental effect on this cargo.
Plant Pathologist, James Townsend, is featured the Marine Insurer Journal with his article ‘Avoiding a Case of the Blues’. James uses blueberry cargo transport as an example to explain the complexities of identifying the causes of spoilage in fresh produce during transit. James shares the optimal conditions for a long shelf life including the need for blueberries to be cooled immediately after harvest to near 0°C to maintain quality and prevent decay. He also discusses controlled atmosphere transport and modified atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life, and how the use of active packaging like sodium metabisulphite pads control fungal growth. He addresses the challenges of moulds and pests affecting blueberries, and the importance of temperature monitoring systems and predictive analytics to ensure the quality of blueberries during transit. He concludes by highlighting that failure to take the critical steps outlined can result in cargo spoilage and an expensive insurance claim. When such incidents do occur, a detailed forensic investigation from an expert in plant disease, can help establish where and why things went wrong, and where the liability should be attributed.
James’ article can be read in full on page 47 of the Marine Insurer Journal.
James Townsend has over 25 years’ experience in his field and has managed diagnostic plant clinics providing diagnoses for a range of UK and overseas crop problems for clients. He is experienced in investigating the causes of plant diseases, crop failures and spoilage of fresh produce. James regularly investigates crop germination failures, crop storage problems, fallen trees, mould contamination, pesticide damage, wildfires and plant disease outbreaks in domestic and commercial settings. If you have encountered a failure and need the help of a plant pathologist, get in touch for a free consultation.
