Development and evaluation on a wireless multi-sensors system for fresh-cut branches of the North American holly cold chain

•A wireless multi-sensors system was developed and evaluated for North American holly branches.•The system was evaluated and validated at a sampled cold chain from Weihai to Beijing.•Monitoring parameters are the temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and ethylene.•The color, moisture content and respiratory rate of quality parameters are analyzed.•Improving the quality control and transparency of the fresh-cut branches cold chain.