Influence of size of peaches on yield, canning operations, processing cost and the quality of the canned product

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to determine the influence of the size of the peach on canning costs and thus giving the relative importance of each size for classification purposes. The study was made with Aldrighi peaches, a variety extensively cultivated in the Pelotas region, State of Rio Grande do Sul, south of Brazil. The classification used was of half centimeters, from about 4,5 to 7,0 for the longer diameter, prependicular to the main axis of the fruit. It was demonstrated that the larger the size of the fruit the larger the pulp production, with smaller expenses in labor, reduce investment in enclosed area and industrial equipment, resulting finally in a better appearance of the finished product and a higher price on the market. The peaches with diameters inferior to 5,0 cm were, consequently, rejected as waste, impropes for canning, particularly the ones with diameters inferior to 4,5. Diameters between 5,0 and 6,0 cm were accepted as satisfactory and the fruits averaging 6,0 gave the best results. A comparison of extreme diameters gave a difference of about 20% in product yield and a difference in operational costs (cutting, seed removing, and finishing) of approximately 500%. The covered area for the industry operation that is for cutting, seed extraction and finishing is, consequently, five times greater. The market prices for processed peaches of diameters inferior to 4,5 are at least minus 10%, a depreciative condition for this class of fruit.