Alessandra Culmone

Lychee (Lychee chinensis Sonn.) is a tropical fruit highly appreciated for its vivid red color, sweet flavor, and nutritional properties. However, it is highly perishable, with postharvest losses often due to oxidative browning and dehydration. This study evaluated the organic olive oil coating (OC), a natural lipidic system with the potential to act as a precursor for organogel development, combined with polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PE) packaging under passive modified atmosphere. Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity and divided into two groups: OC-treated and untreated control (CTR). Both groups were stored at 5 ± 1 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity and analyzed on days 0, 3, 6, and 9. The OC-treated fruits showed significantly better retention of physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities. The coating reduced oxidative stress and enzymatic browning, preserving color and firmness. The PA/PE packaging regulated gas exchange, lowering oxygen levels and delaying respiration and ripening. As a result, OC fruits had lower weight loss, a slower increase in browning index and maturity index, and better visual and sensory scores than the CTR group. This dual strategy proved effective in extending shelf life while maintaining the fruit’s appearance, flavor, and nutritional value. It represents a sustainable and natural approach to enhancing the postharvest stability of lychee.

The choice of time/temperature combination is critical for ensuring microbiological stability and retaining the characteristic taste of dried blood orange slices. The aim of this study was to investigate the capability of hot air-drying technique to maintain the quality characteristic of dried blood orange slices stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Hot air-drying at 70 °C for 12 h preserved shrinkage without altering the longitudinal diameter, though thickness was significantly reduced, especially in samples with passive MAP. Increased hardness and masticability were noted due to water removal, with active MAP maintaining high hardness and colour integrity up to 100 days of storage (D100). Sensory analysis revealed differences in colour intensity and flavour between active and passive MAP-stored slices. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) chromatography identified key chemical compounds contributing to aroma and flavour, highlighting the complex interplay between temperature, storage conditions, and volatile organic compounds production. The study demonstrates that drying combined with MAP storage enhances organoleptic qualities and nutritional value, offering a method to produce a healthy, tasty, and visually appealing snack.

In response to the global challenge of food wastage and high perishability of blackberries, this study evaluated the use of ultrasound-assisted hot air drying (US-HAD) to convert downgraded blackberries into powders, comparing it with traditional hot air drying (HAD). US-HAD reduced the drying time and achieved a final moisture content of 12%. Physicochemical analyses (colourimetry, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content) were conducted on fresh fruit, powders, and fortified cookies. US-HAD cookies exhibited promising antioxidant activity, with ABTS values ranging from 8.049 to 8.536 mmol TEAC/100 g and DPPH values from 8.792 to 9.232 mmol TEAC/100 g, significantly higher than control cookies. The TPC was 13.033 mgGAE/g in HAD cookies and 13.882 mgGAE/g in US-HAD cookies. UHPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed an increase in phenolic compounds content in fortified cookies compared to the control. Sensory analysis highlighted a superior blackberry flavour and overall acceptability in US-HAD cookies, with statistical analysis confirming their superior nutritional and sensory qualities. Integrating US-HAD blackberry powder into cookies helps reduce food waste and enhances the nutritional profiles of baked goods, offering functional foods with health benefits. This work provides a scientific basis for developing enriched functional cookies, offering a healthy and sustainable alternative for utilising damaged fruits.

Postharvest fruit loss is caused by the absence of advanced handling and storage technologies and the quiescent presence of fungal pathogens. Therefore, there is a growing demand for sustainable decisions for the planet. This study focused on the use of two types of edible coatings: one was based on the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. viridulum with Aloe arborescens Mill. gel (EC1), and the other was based on the hydrolate only (EC2). These treatments were applied to provide defense against fungal infections in papaya (Carica papaya L. cv Solo), and the storage time was 25 days (T5 ± 1 °C). Fruits coated with EC1 were more contaminated with fungal pathogens than both control (CTR) and EC2 fruit. EC2 showed a statistically lower decay index than CTR and EC1 and maintained its organoleptic characteristics better, showing a 15% loss of firmness after 25 days of storage. Furthermore, the lowest decay index (1.14 after 25 days) was found for the EC1 and CTR. These findings suggest that the use of hydrolate can be useful for extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of papaya fruit, representing an alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides for food safety.