INTEGRAL QUALITY OF FRESH TOMATO IN STORAGE CONDITIONS

Preservation of the quality of fresh products for companies engaged in the implementation of fresh fruit and vegetable products is an important task in managing supply chains in both transport and warehouse logistics. This work presents an estimate of the loss of quality of fresh tomato under the influence of various temperature regimes using an integral quality parameter. Integral quality parameter index consists of deviations of biochemical parameters (vitamin C, acidity, glucose and the sum of sugars) at the recommended storage temperature (plus 8°C) from the values of these the same indicators at temperatures different from it; the frequency of the participation of the indicators in the correlation dependences between the indices and the highest degree of correlation, estimated from the value of the Pearson coefficient. Using the QFD methodology, the relationship of consumer requirements with technical requirements for the quality of fresh tomato has been determined, and the parameters that have the greatest impact on quality have been established. Approbation of the parameter “integral quality” was carried out on the basis of the data of the experiment conducted in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution North Caucasian Regional Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (Krasnodar), on the influence of temperature regimes on the quality of tomato “Torbash” in the process of storage. The proposed model of quality forecasting can be recommended to companies selling fresh tomatoes, carrying out logistic activities in the supply chains of this vegetable production, and can also serve as a basis for assessing the quality of other fruit and vegetable products.