Post harvest activities to enhance shelf life and qualities of fruits: Principles and methods

Abstract

The profit of farmer’s community can be enhanced by extending the shelf life and quality of fruits by various methods like Curing, pre-cooling, cold storage, modified Atmosphere Storage (MAS), Controlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS) wax coating etc. In all these methods, the shelf life is extended by reducing the respiration rate and moisture loss from the fruits. Modified atmosphere and Controlled Atmosphere treatments also reduce transpiration loss (loss of moisture) and rate of respiration. For this packaging and wrapping materials play important roles. In places, where refrigeration and storage facilities are not available, protective skin coating is one of the methods for increasing storage life of fresh fruits. From storage point of view, high density polyethylene (HDPE) bag was considered to be the best among corrugated boxes, wooden boxes, polyethylene bags and high density ethylene bags. Temperature plays important role in reducing different catalytic and moisture loss processes. The low temperature and controlled atmospheric storage techniques have undoubtedly have increased the shelf life of fruits upto 3 weeks during storage