they spoil easily and have quite a short shelf
life,” explains Dr Belay, who took up the
challenge to find ways to extend the shelf life
of pomegranate arils.
Thanks to her research, guidelines are now
available on the best type of packaging
material to use when sending pomegranate
arils overseas and retailing under active
modified atmosphere packaging conditions,
and the premium concentration of oxygen
and carbon dioxide at which it should be kept.
This method entails more than just vacuum
packaging, but also a constant altering of the
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
air composition in which the fruit are kept.
She found that the optimal gas composition
to keep pomegranate arils at during active
modified atmosphere storage is 6 to 7%
oxygen and 7 to 8% carbon dioxide.
“By using this method, the shelf life of arils can
be extended from seven to ten days,” she says.
Further information
• For statistics about the South African
pomegranate industry, visit www.
sapomegranate.co.za
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