Processing of fruits and vegetables.

The present deficie.ncy in food in India is mostly in the cereal grains.
However, it is also necessary to make provision for the availability of highly protective
foods like fruits and vegetables in the years to come. Only then it will
be possible to raise the nutritional standards of the people in the country.
In order to achieve this object, many scientific methods of processing and pre·servation
are employed. These are being continually modified in the light of
modern scientific development to improve the quality as well as the nutritive value
of the processed products. In recent years, there has been considerable activity
in many parts of the world to develop horticulture as a well-organised and integrated
industry so that it may be possible to make available to the people, large
quantities of fruits and vegetables in fresh as well as preserved condition, almost
throughout the year, despite the' fact that these foodstuffs are highly seasonal
and perishable. In some countries, especially, U.S.A., U.K. and Australia,
the fruit and vegetable processing and preservation industry has steadily developed
to such an extent that at the present time it occupies a high place among the big
industries. This has become possible as a result of well-coordinated research
and developmental work in all the stages of industry right from the field to the
table of the consumer. The economic conditions prevailing in these countries
have also been in a large measure, responsible for this remarkable achievement.
In our country, however, this industry has just made a beginning. Due to lack
of certain essential factors which are necessary for its rapid expansion, the progress
of development has been rather slow. Although quite a good deal of spade work
has been done regarding the standardization and adaptation of well known
methods of preservation of different fruits and vegetables available in different
parts of the country, it has now become necessary to take stock of the present
position and devise ways and means to accelerate the growth of this important
industry with considerable economic as well as strategic importance.