Optimization　of　fresh　fruit　packaging　designs　is　required　to　reduce　energy　loss　by　minimizing　the　pre-cooling　time　and　to　enhance　fruit　quality　by　providing　more　uniform　cooling　without　inducing　chilling　injuries.　In　this　work,　a　computational　fluid　dynamics　(CFD)　model　is　developed　to　study　the　airflow　patterns　and　heat　transfer　inside　an　existing　container　and　a　newly　developed　container.　The　CFD　model　employs　an　unsteady-state　approach　based　on　a　two-equation　eddy-viscosity　turbulence　model　(SST-kappa　-omega　model).　The　cooling　performance　of　the　existing　container　and　the　new　container　are　evaluated　experimentally　and　numerically　with　the　CFD　model.　The　CFD　results　reveal　a　complex　and　uneven　distribution　of　the　airflow　inside　the　existing　vented　package.　Such　airflow　leads　to　a　non-uniform　temperature　distribution　over　the　produce,　with　a　maximum　temperature　difference　of　similar　to　8　degrees　C　between　two　layers　of　stacked　produce.　For　the　new　boxes,　the　half-cooling　time　and　coefficient　of　temperature　variation　are　about　twofold　less　than　those　for　the　existing　boxes,　and　the　maximum　temperature　difference　is　similar　to　2.5　degrees　C　between　two　layers　of　stacked　produce.　Thus,　the　new　package　design　clearly　shows　significant　improvements　in　cooling　performance.　The　numerical　model　is　verified　by　comparing　the　simulation　results　to　those　of　experiments,　and　the　predicted　results　are　consistent　with　the　measured　results.　The　maximum　temperature　deviation　is　less　than　1.5　degrees　C,　and　the　maximum　root-mean-square　error　and　average　relative　error　for　produce　temperature　are　1.452　degrees　C　and　13.6%,　respectively.　This　research　provides　a　reliable　theoretical　and　experimental　basis　for　improving　airflow　and　produce-temperature　uniformity　and　for　minimizing　energy　consumption　during　the　forced-convection　cooling　of　produce.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.