Packaging and cold chain optimization for quality preservation in the table grape supply chain: A Review

Abstract

Table grapes are highly perishable and economically important commodities, requiring tightly controlled postharvest systems to maintain quality during extended export chains. This review demonstrates that quality preservation is not governed by individual factors in isolation, but by the coupled interactions between temperature, relative humidity, packaging architecture, and SO2-mediated decay control. Across studies, widely adopted cold chain protocols are shown to inadequately account for the heterogeneous microenvironments created within modern multi-layer packaging systems, resulting in significant within-package and within-pallet variability that ultimately determines fruit quality outcomes. Advances in modified atmosphere and humidity-regulating packaging, dual-phase SO2-generating pads, and smart liner technologies are critically evaluated in terms of their effectiveness in controlling Botrytis cinerea while minimizing bleaching and residue risks. Sensor-based monitoring, imaging tools, and IoT-enabled systems are examined for their capacity to quantify cold chain integrity and capture spatiotemporal variability. The review further highlights the emerging role of multiphase, multiphysics convection–diffusion–reaction modelling as a unifying framework to resolve airflow, temperature, and gas transport within packed systems. Key challenges identified include non-uniform airflow in palletized configurations, limited standardization of SO2 application, and the absence of integrated, data-driven control strategies. Future progress requires a shift toward configuration-specific, mechanistically informed cold chain design supported by predictive analytics and digital twin approaches. Such advances are essential to improve storage reliability, reduce postharvest losses, and enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the global table grape industry.