The Role of Relative Humidity

The role of relative humidity in the perishable products industry is to maintain quality and to extend shelf life. Temperature, relative humidity, air movement, thermal radiation and structural design all interrelate to create conditions that enhance or detract from product quality. The overall weight, quality and freshness of products are immensely affected by changes in these environmental variables.

Temperature is the key to understanding relative humidity. Warm air has the capacity to hold more moisture than cold air. This is especially true with service cases, which often have lower operating temperatures resulting in less humidity, which can negatively affect the product.