ABSTRACT

Most fruits have limited harvest periods. In order to have extended availability, some form of storage and preservation is needed. A variety of preservation systems exist, each of which results in an extended shelf life. Freezing provides a significantly extended shelf life and has been successfully employed for the long-term preservation of many fruits. In this chapter, we will discuss the application of freezing preservation to fruits. In order to do so, it is necessary to first discuss the freezing preservation process briefly and to consider the special problems of preservation that are presented by fruits.