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Storage And Processing Technologies

Goal – to develop horticultural crop processing technologies and products suitable for commercial companies by assessing the biochemical composition and to test various storage technologies for extending fruit and vegetable shelf life.


Priority research topics:

  • Development of new processing technologies for acquiring innovative food products by using by-products of horticultural crop cultivation and processing, such as marc, peels and skins, etc.;
  • Technology development and recommendation drafting for farmers on various storage methods in traditional and atmosphere-controlled storages for apple, pear, carrot, onion, cabbage cultivars suitable for commercial cultivation, including research with 1-MCP;
  • Research on optimal fruit harvest period and storage method effects on shelf life and quality of new cultivars and cultivars derived from GR;
  • Practical research in collaboration with businesses on storing apples in ULO storages in production conditions;
  • Research on storage methods by using different primary processing methods and technologies for various vegetables, such as horseradish, winter garlic.

 
Performed and active research

  • Practicable research meeting the needs of entrepreneurs:
    • storage of commercial apple cultivars, incl. in controlled atmosphere storage units and applying processing methods using growth regulator 1-MCP;
    • research on determining appropriate harvest time (fruit ripeness) for apples by comparing different storage methods and assessing the majority of commercial cultivars cultivated in Latvia;
    • development of new products containing fibre by using fruit and berry marc as raw material;
    • suitability assessment of large-fruited and crabapple cultivars for production of different products (i.e. cider, puree);
    • apple fibre product effects on changes in the lipid profile in people aged 60 and older;
    • utilization of vegetative part and processing by-products of sea buckthorn for an improved immune system, general health and meat quality of calves.
  • Innovative research in horticultural crop cultivation and by-product processing:
    • methods of use and chemical composition analysis of Japanese quince seed oil;
    • tocopherol and other biologically active compound identification in large-fruited and crabapple apple seeds, apricot and cherry stones, pear and grape seeds.
  • General assessment of the most suitable breeding material from selected fruit crop parent plants and bred hybrids by analysing the specific (characteristic) qualitative indices of each culture.