Assessing Commodity Characteristics of Long-Term Shelf-Life Vegetable Products with Novel Packaging Materials

Abstract

A primary objective for agricultural producers in the Russian crop industry is to ensure the quality and safety of products in accordance with regulatory standards during long-term storage, typically lasting six months or more. This study focuses on analyzing the commodity indicators of carrots, beets, and potatoes after extended storage periods using innovative packaging materials. The vegetable products were stored for 210 days, adhering to the requirements outlined in the developed Technological Instructions defined by FEFU STO 02067942-005– 2023, within an “Agricultural vegetable storehouse” located in Primorsky Krai, Russia. The storage involved implementing “Agrotextile” packaging materials, as specified by FEFU STO 02067942-004–2023. Vegetable samples from corresponding control groups were bulk-stored on wooden pallets, maintaining similar conditions. Quality and safety assessments of the vegetable products were conducted in compliance with prevailing regulatory documents. The analysis encompassed microbiological indicators, toxic elements, pesticide, and radionuclide content evaluations, as well as organoleptic assessments. After 210 days of storage, all vegetable products (including potatoes, beets, and carrots) met the requirements specified by the prevailing regulatory documents concerning safety indicators. Moreover, the organoleptic evaluation revealed that vegetables stored using “Agrotextile” packaging materials exhibited significantly superior characteristics
compared to the corresponding control groups. This encompassed enhanced organoleptic parameters, as well as improved nutritional and biological attributes such as higher levels of sugars, pectins, β-carotene, organic acids, and vitamin C. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of “Agrotextile” packaging materials in sustaining the quality and nutritional value of vegetable products during long-term off-season storage. This development holds great significance for the Russian agroindustrial complex, offering substantial potential to uphold the quality and nutritional attributes of agricultural produce over extended storage durations.