Economic Feasibility Study of Cold Storage for Selected Citrus Varieties

Abstract

This study aims to identify the importance of citrus fruit varieties suitable for cold storage and the extent to which economic feasibility can be applied. The research was conducted during the spring of 2023 and lasted for two consecutive months, with the objective of evaluating weight loss in citrus fruits stored under refrigeration conditions at a temperature of 5°C and relative humidity of 90%. 

The study included five orange varieties (Hasna, Demi, Java, Abu-Sura, Sukari) collected from the regions of Al-Nasiriya and Al-Amiriya, southwest of Tripoli in the Jfara area, with a total quantity of 9 tons. The hypothetical loss rate was calculated and compared with the actual weight loss. A consumer survey was also used to explore preferences for consuming these fruits out of season. 

The findings showed that the Hasna, Demi, and Abu-Sura varieties recorded weight losses of 8.3%, 9.8%, and 9.25% respectively, compared to the Java variety which had the lowest weight loss. The Sukari variety exhibited a high loss rate, leading the researchers to exclude it from the economic feasibility analysis for late storage. In terms of profitability, the Java variety achieved a gain of 6%, followed by Abu-Sura at 2.5%, while the Demi and Hasna varieties recorded losses of 0.4% and 5.7% respectively