A Review of Packing Technologies that Enhance Freshness of Monkey Cola Fruit

Abstract

Post-harvest losses remain a critical challenge in tropical agriculture, particularly for underutilized fruits such as monkey cola. This review synthesizes advances in Modified Atmosphere Packaging, Active Packaging, Edible Coatings, Intelligent Packaging, and Hybrid Systems. MAP has proven effective in controlling respiration and moisture condensation, while active packaging reduces microbial spoilage through antimicrobial agents. Edible coatings derived from natural polymers provide eco-friendly barriers against water loss and contamination, and intelligent packaging introduces sensors for real-time freshness monitoring. Hybrid systems combine multiple approaches for comprehensive preservation but remain complex and costly. Despite these advances, gaps persist in scalability, affordability, and adaptation to monkey cola physiology. Future perspectives emphasize bio-based films, natural antimicrobials, low-cost sensors, and context-specific hybrid systems tailored to Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This review concludes that edible coatings and active packaging are the most immediately viable strategies for monkey cola freshness, while MAP and intelligent systems hold promise for commercial and export-oriented supply chains.

Keywords

• Monkey cola
• Packaging technologies
• Edible coatings
• Freshness preservation

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