Grade 8 Seasonal Vegetable Storage

Vegetable storage is important because all vegetable cannot be consumed and sold out at once, moreover it can take longer time to reach in market from production area.

Things to consider before storage of vegetable:
1. Vegetables should be harvested at peak period of maturity.
2. Do not pick vegetable that are infected.
3. Handle vegetable properly.
4. leave an inch of stem part on vegetable.
5. separately store the variety of vegetables.

Factors affecting storage life:
1. Temperature
2. Water loss
3. Mechanical damage
4. Clean storage

Methods of Vegetable Storage:
1. Freezing
2. Chemical Storage

1. Freezing

In this method the harvested vegetable are stored in a freezer or cold storage in a freezing temperature. It prevents the growing of micro-organism, keep the nutritional quality and colour. vegetables can be stored for months.

2.Chemical Storage:

In this method the harvested vegetable are stored using various chemicals or medicine. It increases on the longevity of vegetables. 

Advantages:

1. Control of microorganisms

2.Controlling of ethylene gas.

3. control of decaying of vegetables.

Some of the widely used chemical in storage of vegetables are listed below:

1. common salt

2. Sugars

3. Lactic acid

4. Acetic acid

5. Fungicide like sulphur dioxide