Frozen Vegetables & Cold Storage

Abstract

India is a large country producing variety of fruits and vegetables. The range includes fruits like mangoes, banana, papaya, orange, mosambi, grapes, pineapple, watermelon etc. and vegetables like potatoes, onions and number of green vegetables including lady finger brinjal, cabbage, peas, chillies and so on. Till recently, the fruit and vegetable industry is mostly concentrated in rural areas catering to the requirement fo immediate urban areas situated in a radius of around 50 to 60 Ksm. A revolution in this industry started with theprocessing of fruits and marketing of fruit pulps in the indegenous as well and international markets. Fruits & vegetables, being perishable in nature require certain techniques of preservation for retaining the freshness in tact and making them an acceptable item even after few days of ripening. It also facilitates the farmer to realise a better price instead of selling theproduct at a throw away price due to the perishability. This necessity as evolved a new concept of storing these items at below or just above sub-zero temperatures known as cold storage.