Empirical Models for Predicting Storability of Stored Produce

Mathematical models (using Essential regression software package) were developed to predict the weight, ? carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and lycopene contents of the stored produce at various conditions considered in the study. The mathematical models developed are reasonably accurate to predict the storability of fruits and vegetables in passive evaporative cooling structures. Also, the model performance was found to be satisfactory and show good predictability. The information on the optimization analysis also provides critical values of the process parameters for selecting optimum nutritional values of stored produce.