Breakthrough-modified atmosphere packaging addresses the shelf-life challenges of mushrooms and generates positive feedback from mushroom growers and shippers

Tefen, Israel – Fresh produce packaging pioneers StePacPPC has customized 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, portabella, and more. The lean MAP system fulfills consumer demands for sustainable packaging that slows deterioration and dramatically reduces waste of this highly perishable item.

The appetite for mushrooms has grown rapidly based on their health halo and being a vegan source of meaty umami flavor and texture. Yet mushrooms also have a very short shelf life. Growers and shippers constantly grapple with these challenges, striving to improve mushroom storage capabilities and curb waste.

StePacPPC’s MAP packaging personalized for mushroom preservation

StePacPPC’s latest advancement in its packaging formats is designed specifically to maintain the freshness of whole and sliced white mushrooms, and whole exotic mushrooms. The customized films significantly slow down decay and reduce weight loss of costly culinary delicacies, preserving texture, nutrition, and flavor thereby effectively diminishing a considerable amount of waste and cost.

Over the past decade, consumer demand for mushrooms has surged, with more exotic species entering the mainstream. They are considered a culinary specialty, appreciated for their savory qualities and nutritional benefits. According to data by Emergen Research, the global mushroom market size is valued at more than US$50 billion. This number is expected to double by 2030.

Despite the increasing demand, the highly perishable nature of mushrooms, combined with the challenges of maintaining their shelf life, has kept them from realizing their full market potential.

“Mushrooms have high metabolic activity and respiration rates which gives them a short shelf life, typically just a few days,” explains Gary Ward, Ph.D., CTO for StePacPPC. “They also

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

The high water-vapor transmission rate of StePacPPC films, coupled with the customized modified atmosphere properties, has proven ideal for preserving the quality of whole and sliced mushrooms, slowing respiration and aging, reducing dehydration, and expelling excess moisture from the packaging.

“In post-harvest lab and field trials, our films have demonstrated abilities to maintain the freshness and wholesome appearance of mushrooms,” asserts Ward. “This effectively stretches their shelf life from just a few days to more than two weeks, generating meaningful reductions in food waste.”

StePacPPC’s packaging first demonstrated its potential for mushroom preservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oyster mushroom farmers found themselves with backlogs of produce due to the logistical standstills. StePacPPC’s Xtend® bulk packaging solutions were instrumental in helping prolong storage in cold storage, effectively mitigating waste.

Since then, the company has developed Xtend bulk packaging solutions for lion’s mane, shiitake and portabella.

“Waste in our supply chain reduced by more than 35%”

“We use the Xtend solution for packing our oyster and portobella mushrooms and preserving the quality during shipment to the customers,” notes Roni Sofer, VP of Marketing for Marina Galilee Mushrooms, Ltd., a market leader in Israel. “The results have been amazing, and overall, we have succeeded in preserving the freshness for more than 10 days and waste in our supply chain has reduced by more than 35% since we began. We strongly recommend to any mushroom grower or supplier to examine this solution.”

More recently, StePacPPC and its longstanding partner, Windham Packaging, LLC, completed the adaptation of its Xflow™ brand of roll-stock films for automated packing to meet the specific preservation needs of bulk fresh sliced white mushrooms.

StePacPPC’s newest Xflow solutions already are gaining momentum in North America, where they are preserving the quality of bulk-packed sliced mushrooms for food service outlets such as restaurants and hotels.

“We use the Xflow solution for packing our sliced mushroom and preserving the quality during shipping to food service customers. The results have been impressive, and overall, the packaging system preserved the freshness for as long as 18 days,” says Fred Recchiuti of Basciani Foods, a leading provider of fresh high-quality mushrooms for retail and the food service industry in the USA. “The tamper-proof bag increases food safety, security, and eliminates the possibility of foreign materials entering the product in the supply chain. For sustainability, it reduces the product’s plastic use by more than 94.7% versus the tubs we used to use.”

These lean and sustainable packaging formats can optionally be produced with 30% recycled material to support a circular economy. This is in conjunction with its longstanding use of mechanically recycled content.

“Our highly functional packaging solution has been tailored to dramatically improve inventory management and storability of mushrooms, enabling stakeholders to prolong storage in times of glut and preserve their quality along the supply chain. This, in turn, will boost marketability and consumer experience,” Ward concludes.

StePacPPC will be showcasing at the upcoming Fruit Logistica in Berlin, February 7- 9, hall 5.2, booth #C22.