StePacPPC, a pioneer in fresh produce packaging, has customised its award-winning modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) films to preserve fresh, whole and sliced white mushrooms and whole exotic mushrooms such as oyster, lion’s mane, shiitake, portobella and more. The lean MAP system meets consumer demands for sustainable packaging that reduces spoilage and dramatically reduces waste of this highly perishable item.

The appetite for mushrooms has been growing rapidly because of their health halo and because they are a vegan source of umami flavour and meaty texture. However, mushrooms also have a very short shelf life. Producers and shippers are constantly facing these challenges, striving to improve mushroom storage capabilities and curb wastage.

StePacPPC’s customised MAP packaging for mushroom preservation

StePacPPC’s latest advancement in its packaging formats is specifically designed to maintain the freshness of whole and sliced white mushrooms and whole exotic mushrooms. Customised films significantly slow down spoilage and reduce weight loss of expensive culinary delicacies, preserving texture, nutrition and flavour, thus effectively reducing a considerable amount of waste and cost.

Over the last decade, consumer demand for mushrooms has increased, and more exotic species have entered the mainstream. They are considered a culinary speciality, prized for their savoury qualities and nutritional benefits. According to Emergen Research, the size of the global mushroom market is valued at more than $50 billion. This figure is expected to double by 2030.

Despite growing demand, the highly perishable nature of mushrooms, combined with the challenges of maintaining their shelf life, has prevented them from reaching their full market potential.

“Mushrooms have high metabolic activity and respiration rates, which gives them a short shelf life, usually only a few days,” explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., CTO of StePacPPC.

“They also generate a lot of moisture during the respiration process, which encourages bacterial decomposition. On the other hand, they are also prone to dehydration, which causes them to shrivel and discolour due to oxidation. Sliced mushrooms are even more susceptible to a rapid decline in quality”.

The high water vapour transmission rate of StePacPPC films, coupled with the customised properties of the modified atmosphere, have proven ideal for preserving the quality of whole and sliced mushrooms, while slowing respiration and ageing, reducing dehydration and expelling excess moisture from the packaging. .

“In field and laboratory post-harvest tests, our films have been shown to be…