Review Structural design of corrugated boxes for horticultural produce: A review Pankaj B. Pathare a,b , Umezuruike Linus Opara a,b,* a Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa b Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, Department of Food Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa article info Article history: Received 24 July 2013 Received in revised form 25 June 2014 Accepted 30 June 2014 Published online 23 July 2014 Keywords: Corrugated packaging Finite element modelling Compression test Drop test Vibration test Corrugated boxes are used extensively for transporting and storing fresh produce in the horticultural industry. These boxes protect their contents from mechanical damage due to drops, impacts, vibration and compression loads. The analysis and prediction of the stacking compression load capacity of corrugated boxes is important to study the response of existing packaging to mechanical stress or to design new boxes to meet postharvest handling conditions. Good design of vented packaging is important in optimising the cooling and ventilation uniformity, minimising quality deterioration of packed produce and maintaining the mechanical integrity of the box. Various experimental and modelling tools are used to investigate the design and mechanical performance of packaging. Experimental studies on mechanical performance of packaging include compression, impact and vibration analysis. Finite element analysis and simulation is useful for study and structural design of ventilated corrugated packaging, considering the shape, location and size of the vent. Advances in information and communication technologies offer new prospects for development of user-friendly software toward integrated design and per- formance analysis of fresh produce packaging. © 2014 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Packaging plays a critical role in the postharvest handling and distribution of fresh and processed food and other bio- materials (Opara, 2011; Pathare, Opara, Vigneault, Delele, & Al-Said, 2012). Packaging has many other important func- tions, such as protecting the packaged goods from hazards including contamination in the distribution environment, facilitating transportation and storing of products, and carrying printed information and graphics (H€ agglund & Carlsson, 2011). Packaging is one of the most important steps in the long and complicated journey of fresh horticul- tural produce from grower to consumer (Boyette, Sanders, & Rutledge, 1996). The types of packaging used for fresh horticultural produce handling include wood crates, corrugated shipping boxes, polymeric films pouches, bags, baskets, crates, trays, paper sheets, pouches, etc (Pascall, 2010). Boxes have to withstand * Corresponding author. Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Tel.: þ27 21 808 4064; fax: þ27 21 808 3743. E-mail address: opara@sun.ac.za (U.L. Opara). Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/issn/15375110 biosystems engineering 125 (2014) 128 e140 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2014.06.021 1537-5110/© 2014 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.