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The storage of globe artichokes under modified atmospheres.

Author(s) : ALEXOPOULOS A. A., AKOUMIANAKIS K. A., PASSAM H. C.

Type of article: Article

Summary

Globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus L. cv. Argous), 5.5-7.5 cm and 7.6-10.0 cm in diameter, were harvested from a commercial plantation in southern Greece over two seasons and stored for up to 28 days at 2 plus or minus 0.5 and 10 plus or minus 1.0°C. Artichokes that were not enclosed in plastic lost 24-52 and 48-51% weight within two weeks of storage at 2 and 10 °C respectively, and so were unmarketable. By contrast, artichokes that were stored in polystyrene boxes covered with cling film, perforated polyethylene or clear polystyrene lost less than 3% weight (at 2 °C) and 6% (at 10 °C) over the same period, and 2.5-5.5% and 5.4-11.1% respectively after 4 weeks. Colour retention of the outer bracts was also improved by enclosure in plastic. The CO2 concentration within the packages was low at 2 °C, being 0.4-1.9% for cling film and less than 0.4% for the other two plastics, compared with 1.9-3.2% and 0.1-1.1% respectively at 10 °C. Colour and CO2 concentration were not affected by artichoke diameter, although the rate of weight loss was lower in large heads. Enclosed artichokes stored at 10 °C were only 20-40% acceptable after 14 days and not at all after 28 days, whereas those stored at 2 °C were 60-100% acceptable for market even after 28 days, cling film being slightly preferable to polyethylene and polystyrene.

Details

  • Original title: The storage of globe artichokes under modified atmospheres.
  • Record ID : 2004-1817
  • Languages: English
  • Source: J. Food Agric. Environ. - vol. 1 - n. 2
  • Publication date: 2003/04

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