Scientists Discover a Practical Way of Storing Fresh Tomato

Tomatoes can be kept field-fresh for three weeks without using cold storage, according to the researchers from the Laguna-based Philippine Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC).

One economical alternative is to use the Evaporative Cooling and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Technology which prolongs the storage life of fresh tomatoes under ordinary condition using locally available materials.

Developed by the team of Gloria Masilungan, Dr. Edralina Serrano and Kevin Yap, Evaporative Cooling and MAP Technology utilizes coconut coir dust and polyethylene (PE) plastic packaging and a suitable crate or container for storing tomatoes.

Underestimate Not the Lowly Camote

The camote or sweetpotato is more important than you think in ensuring food security. It is providing a decent source of income even for the lowly farmers who don’t have much capital to spend in their farming.

A few weeks back, we wrote about what’s new in sweetpotato after visiting the PhilRootcrops at the Visayas State University. There, the researchers are developing varieties for commercial production. Dr. Julie Tan, on the other hand, has been developing new products like wine and other camote-based products with added value.

Medicinal Plants: Gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn)

About Gumamela

Gumamela is a shrub that grows from one meter up to 4 meters high. Gumamela is also known as: Hibiscus, China Rose and Shoeflower. In the Philippines, gumamela is cultivated as an ornamental plant. The gumamela flower comes in many colors: red, yellow, orange, white, purple, pink and other color combinations.

Gumamela leaves, usually blended with Rose Hip has long been used in the Middle East and Okinawa as herbal tea. Today, the use of gumamela tea is gaining worldwide popularity – including Asia. Gumamela (Hibiscus) is associated with longevity.