Author(s): Dr. PG Thenmozhi, Dr. V Kumaravel, Dr. S Sendurkumaran

Abstract:
Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in water, low in protein and fat. They are important source of both digestible and indigestible carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins especially vitamin A and C. The post-harvest losses of both fresh and freshly processed Agricultural produce have been estimated to be as high as 25 to 40 per cent of the total production. To counteract post-harvest losses, the use of modified atmosphere storage has increased for bulk storage and also for consumer sized packages. Moreover Modified Atmosphere Packaging complies with recent trends in the use of healthy convenient foods. The main objectives of this study was to asses the impact of refrigerated modified atmosphere storage conditions on the chemical, nutritional, microbiological and organoleptic qualities of minimally processed Grape like Ana-b-shahi and Thompson seedless. A slightly modified version of modified atmosphere packaging unit was fabricated and erected. The grapes were minimally processed in the pretreated in one per cent citric acid, potassium metabisulphite and salt for 30 seconds. The pretreated grapes were under modified atmospheres (oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen in 500ml bottles at refrigeration temperature. 12 degree centigrade. During storage period The grapes (Anab-e-shahi) had 73.60 g of moisture, 2.10 gm of acidity,15.80 degree brix of total soluble solids,14.15 mg of ascorbic acid, 56.90 and 94.19 g per cent of reducing and total sugars. The Thompson seedless grapes had 69.00 g of moisture, 1.10 gm of acidity,22.55degree brix of total soluble solids,5.36 mg of ascorbic acid, 9.80 and 15.17 g per cent of reducing and total sugars Organoleptic evaluation showed that the treated Anab-e-shahi and Thompson seedless was as good as fresh. The production costs of minimally processed grapes were 50.00. The shelf life of the grapes came up to 45 days in T2, T3 and T4 treated samples under modified atmosphere packaging whereas the control samples kept good for only 15 days. From this study it was observed that minimally processed grapes could be successfully stored under modified atmosphere packaging