The effects of ripening stages (green, pink and red) and packing (polyethylene tighted, polyethylene with holes and without polyethylene) were studied on tomatoes `Santa Clara', stored for 7, 14 and 21 days at 13 ± 0,5oC and 80 ± 10% RH (+ 2 days of marketing simulation). The colour of fruits increased during cold storage and marketing for three ripening stages without packing effect. The use of polyethylene bags principally sealed was important for the reduction of fruit weight loss and there was no effect of ripening stages on this parameter. The decay of fruits increased substancially after 21 days for pink and red ripening stages.
polyethylene; ripening stages; cold storage; tomatoes
