According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, decrease of preserved fruits in refrigerators is a common task due to ripening of fruits and garden-related contaminations. Every year, it is aimed to improve the quality of services provided for customers by repetitive disinfection during preserving, interaction with gardeners and teaching them about the issues before and after harvest and constant provision of information about the proper time of exit of fruit from refrigerator so that the reduction of quality of fruits is minimized. Nevertheless, disinfections before the entrance and maintenance of products, as well as control of temperature, moisture and daily ventilation of halls have not led to minimization of reduced quality of fruits.

Description of Technological Need

The applicant company has three refrigerating units, which have 92, 25 and 18 refrigerating rooms, respectively. In addition, the total capacity of these refrigerators is 24500 tons. These units have the ability to keep the fruits fresh (mostly apples, type of citrus, pomegranate, plum, peach, nectarine, and pear) and adhere to the standard of 830 (regulations of maintenance of fruits and vegetables in refrigerator) for all fruits.

Necessities of Suggestions

The first phase of this project is receiving proposals, followed by the evaluation of the delivered works and selection of the best ones. Generally, the solutions and suggestions must adhere to these regulations: the proposed solution must significantly reduce the breathing of fruit and delay the ripening of the fruits. In addition, it must reduce the weight loss of fruits and maintain the acidity and sugar of fruits at a favorable level. Moreover, the solution must decrease the growth of fungi and bacteria and eliminate fungal spore contamination. Furthermore, the suggested method must keep the smell, taste and appearance of fruits and its quality at a high level. On the other hand, the solutions must reduce post-harvest contaminations and ethylene produced in fruits must be kept in halls.

Nevertheless, the proposed solutions are not necessarily limited to these suggestions: presenting solutions that lead to reduced breathing of fruits and decreased fungi contaminations and rutting of fruits. In addition, solutions that can preserve fruits with a higher quality can be presented. On the other hand, the unacceptable approaches are those that separate, washes and waxes the fruits.

The proposed ideas on increase of durability and quality of fruit in refrigerator will be received by the efforts of the national technomart of Iran. The national technomart of Iran is active by the order of the higher council of cultural revolution and under the supervision of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs in order to develop the technology market of the country.