Green asparagus, which accounts for 50% of national consumption of fresh asparagus in Argentina, has, in general, a poor postharvest management, with neither cold chain nor adequate packaging. The aim of this experiment was to assess postharvest quality of green asparagus within a simulated marketing period with cold chain and use of plastic films for packaging.
It was used the cultivar 'UC 157 F₂', grown in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. The treatments were: conventional management (T1); conventional management plus cold chain (T2); conventional management plus cold chain and packaging in bags. A complete randomized Blocks Design was used, the experimental unit was the package of 0,5 kg for T1 and T2 and of 0,35 kg for T3. The 3 treatments were analyzed at 3 cutting distances from the apex (4, 8 and 12 cm), in 3 evaluation dates (4, 7, and 10 days), with 7 repetitions. The analyzed variables were: loss of weight, fiber percentage and texture. The subjected asparagus to T3 suffered a minimum loss of weight. The evolution of the fiber percentage and the resistance to the cut during the storage was bigger in T1, presenting a similar behavior to T2 and T3. Cold chain and packaging with plastic films were useful to extend commercial life of green asparagus.