Strawberry Cooling Crates Get Innovative Makeover From USF Poly

Researchers at the University of South Florida's College of Technology and Innovation are working to improve the quality of strawberry production.

"Clamshell" shaped containers are placed on cardboard crates to cool, but when air vents on the cardboard pallets do not match up to the clamshells it takes longer to cool the product inside. Uneven cooling increases the possibility that a strawberry in the middle of the clamshell will begin to rot.

USF Poly's custom design is dubbed RPCs -- reusable plastic containers -- and plans to provide optimum air circulation with a 40 percent reduction in cooling time, according to Highlands Today.

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