Advances in Refrigerated and Controlled Atmosphere Storage of Fruits and Vegetables

Long term storage of a variety of crops as well as long-distance transport, has allowed meeting the consumers’ expectations in the supply of many types of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. This is only possible with the use of several postharvest technologies. This chapter starts with a brief historical context followed by an overview of the technologies used for fruits and vegetables storage, including refrigerated and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage as well as the most recently developed technologies for storing these produces. We also address the innovation requirements in the refrigeration systems when integrating cold storage with CA, including the need for higher refrigeration capacity, use of air tight storage chambers, CO2 scrubbers and atmosphere generators. The effects of these methodologies on fruit physiology and quality during storage are further discussed. Finally, the current recommendations for long term storage using ‘Rocha’ pear as a case study are presented.