Effects of biodegradable packaging and modified atmosphere on quality and shelf life extension of green bean

Green bean is a vegetable exported from Senegal to Europe. They are generally packed in carton boxes of 5-7 kg. In order to increase shelf life storage of the commodity and to optimize the use of local biodegradable material, basket of leaf palm tree are made for carton fibreboard container substitution. These packages are an excellent marketing element and cheaper than the carton boxes. Storage of green bean at 10 degrees C with relative humiditry of 90% in leaf palm tree baskets wrapped in retractable polyethylene film of 15 mu of thickness kept their freshness during 15 days against only 7 days for the simple refrigeration and 3 days for the control samples. 8 to 14% weight losses and fungal diseases obtained on control and refrigerated groups are reduced significantly to 2 - 6% on the lots packed in the leaf palm tree baskets.