Moisture content is one of the important factors determining the marketable quality of
produce. Fruit and vegetables start losing moisture immediately after harvest (Ben Yehoshua
and Rodov, 2002). However, laser-generated etched markings are physical pinholes penetrating
through the cuticle and into the epidermis rendering the produce surface more susceptible to
water loss than non etched surfaces. There was a sharp increase in the rate of water loss between
the 35 and 45 µs exposure times (Figure 2-4). The difference in the rate of water loss was less
pronounced at higher exposure times.