Extension of the storage-life of green peas (pisum sativum l.) using a cold storage unit

The storage life of uniform and healthy green Pea pods (Pisum sativum L.) inside a cold storage unit called Ecofrost and at ordinary room conditions was studied from 23 November to 8 December 2016. The pea pods, harvested in the evening session at the horticulture maturity conditions, were then transported within 2 hours and 30 min in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Agricultural Research Laboratory of Ecofrost Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune. The selected pea pods were kept in the cold storage unit i.e. Ecofrost. The study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of cold storage conditions (0°C and 93% RH) on the post-harvest weight loss of green peas. The results recorded the lowest average weight loss for the peas (within zip-lock bag with 2% ventilation) inside Ecofrost, around 6.28kg / day / tons for six days of storage. Maximum average weight loss of 113 kg / day / tonne was observed at ordinary room conditions for nearly the same period. Peas stored in the Ecofrost demonstrated a maximum storage life of 12.5 days and became inedible after 15 days (without zip lock bag), to 14 days (within zip-lock bag with 2% ventilation) with very slight (less than 30%) shrivelling and became inedible after 16.5 days.