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| Rural Industries |
Objectives
Background
The trend towards high quality, 'all-natural', 'healthy' foods is leading to a higher consumption of fresh fruit at the expense of processed fruits. In 1989 RIRDC identified value-adding and new plant products as priority areas in its R&D program. Similarly, fruit processing had been identified by the subcommittees of the Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers responsible for passionfruit, pawpaws, mangoes and pineapples as a priority research area. Furthermore, oversupply of fresh tropical and subtropical fruits has been reported by the Industries Assistance Commission and minimal processing of such fruits would provide a market for surplus supplies.
Research
Three areas of research were undertaken. Firstly, researchers determined the length of time a fruit salad could be stored before there were detectable changes in its sensory characteristics. Secondly, changes occurring in individual components of the fruit salad were studied. Finally, using rockmelon dice as a test, fruit pieces were stored under modified atmospheres to see what effect this had on shelf-life.
Outcome
Results indicated that fruit pieces, whether or not
they were included in a salad and irrespective of variety, had
a short shelf-life. Honeydew and pineapple had the longest shelf-lives,
11 to 14 days, of any fruit tested. Storage of rockmelon dice
under modified atmospheres extended their shelf-life from four-days
to at least thirty eight-days. To achieve these results, rockmelon
pieces free of microorganisms were prepared.
Procedures for large-scale production of low-microorganism-count fruit dice are needed for the commercial production of extended shelf-life rockmelon pieces. Results from the research have been transferred to industry via articles in journals and magazines and through media releases and conference presentations.
Implications
The project has highlighted a need for more research
on the microbiology of fruit. Notably, the existence or otherwise
of a resident microflora within the tissue of sound fruit needs
to be established so that appropriate treatments for the control
of microbial growth can be designed. Also, the growth of disease-producing
organisms under low oxygen and high carbon dioxide atmospheres
used in modified atmosphere packaging needs to be tested.
RIRDC Project No: DAQ-111A
RESEARCHER: Robyn Shaw
ORGANISATION: International Food Institute of Queensland
Queensland Department of Primary Industries 19 Hercules Street HAMILTON QLD 4007PHONE: 07 268 8586
FAX: 07 868 1853PUBLICATIONS:
O'Connor-Shaw, R E, Roberts, R, Ford, A L and Nottingham, S E, 1995, Shelf life of minimally processed honeydew melon, kiwifruit, papaya, pineapple and cantaloupe. Journal of Food Science 59 (5), pp1-6.
O'Connor-Shaw, R E, Roberts, R, Ford, A L and Nottingham, S E, 1995, Controlled atmosphere storage of microbiologically sterile cantaloupe dice. Submitted to Journal of Food Science.
O'Connor, RE, Skarshewski, P. and Thrower, S.J. 1992. Modified atmosphere packaging of fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat: state of the art. ASEAN Food Journal, 7, 127136.
Last updated: 10 October 1996
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Index of RIRDC Projects URL
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/93-94/index-b.html