Free Fruits Research Articles

Benchmarking the university campus food environment and exploring student perspectives about food insecurity and healthy eating: a case study from Australia

ObjectiveTo benchmark the university food environment and explore students’ experiences with food insecurity and healthy eating in order to inform interventions to improve access and affordability of healthy foods for university students.DesignA food environment audit was conducted on the university campus using the Uni-Food tool from April to May 2022 and was comprised of three main components, university systems and governance, campus facilities and environment, and food retail outlets. A qualitative study design was also used to conduct focus groups and semi-structured interviews with students to explore key themes regarding their experiences with food insecurity and healthy eating.SettingMacquarie University, Australia.ParticipantsFor the food environment audit 24 retail outlets on campus and for the qualitative component 29 domestic and international students enrolled at Macquarie University.ResultsThe university only scored 27% in total for all components in the food environment audit. The results showed the need for better governance and leadership of the food environment. The qualitative component suggested that the main barriers to accessing healthy foods were related to availability, pricing, and knowledge of healthy foods. Future intervention ideas included free fruits and vegetables, food relief, discounts, improved self-catering facilities, education, and increased healthy food outlets.ConclusionsImproving governance measures related to healthy eating on campus are a core priority to strengthen the food environment and students identified pricing and availability as key issues. These findings will inform effective and feasible interventions to improve food security and healthy eating on campus.

Callicarpayongshunensis (Lamiaceae): A new species from Hunan, China.

This study provides detailed description of a newly-discovered Callicarpayongshunensis Wen B. Xu, Xiao D. Li & Yan Ling Liu (Lamiaceae) species from Hunan, China. The species shares similarities in the inflorescence, glandular colour and leaf shape features with C.luteopunctata H. T. Chang and C.giraldii Hesse ex Rehd., while its white fruits are similar to those of C.longifolia Lamk. However, its procumbent, evergreen shrub and white fruits are distinctly different from those of C.luteopunctata and C.giraldii, while its procumbent, scarless nodes and stellate pubescence free fruits distinguishes it from C.longifolia. Images, distribution, morphological features, molecular phylogenetic classification and conservation assessment of this new Callicarpa species are explored.

Community building through collaborative food production and consumption: A case study of Grow Free in South Australia

ABSTRACT Grow Free, a grassroots social initiative, emerged in South Australia in 2013. Grow Free advocates for the sharing and exchange of free seeds, seedlings, fruits, and vegetables among neighbors. The number of Grow Free participants grew to about 230 throughout South Australia as of 2022. This article explores the agri-social characteristics of Grow Free participants, drawing on 50 postal survey respondents and 17 semi-structured phone interviews. This study finds that diverse non-governmental organizations in addition to residential households are actively participating in the Grow Free network, including community gardens and community centers. Moreover, many household-type Grow Free participants are linked to an array of other grassroots social initiatives including Permaculture South Australia and Trees for Life. The study notes that Grow Free along with other alternative food networks has facilitated collaborative food production and consumption at a local scale. Through grassroots organizational mechanisms, Grow Free participants have been committed to fostering community building and resilience through food sharing.

Isolation and Identification of Fungi Associated with Fruit Rot Disease of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in the Southern Guinea Savannah, Nigeria

Rot disease is a major threat to tomato fruit production and postharvest handling in major tomato growing areas in Nigeria. Rotted tomato fruits were randomly collected from farmers’ farms for the purpose of isolation and identification of rot causing fungi in Tarka, Benue State, Nigeria between July and December, in 2015 and 2016. Results revealed that Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Alternaria solani, Phytophthora infestans, Oidium neolycopersici, Sclerotium rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium spp and Colletotrichum spp caused tomato fruit rot in the area. In both years, the lowest number of fungi was recorded in the months of July and December while the highest number was obtained in September. The mean number of fungi isolated showed that S. rolfsii was the least with 3.17 in 2015 and 1.66 in 2016 while F. oxysporum was the highest with 14.33 in 2015 and 9.33 in 2016. There were more fungi isolated in 2015 than in 2016. There were significant differences (P≤0.05) in the mean number of A. niger, P. infestans, O. neolycopersici and F. oxysporum isolated in both years. In conclusion, farmers should handle tomato fruits with care, to reduce postharvest injury and damage in order to ensure the availability of disease free fruits and to increase the output for the global population.

Management Of Pre And Post Harvest Fruit Rot Diseases Of Ber

The main focus of this research is to produce the good quality and disease free fruits. In this aspect, the investigation was carried out to reduce or control the pre and post-harvest fungal fruit rot. The study on pre and post-harvest management of fruit rot diseases of ber caused by Alternaria and Colletotrichum was carried out and the results showed that two pre-harvest sprays of Thiophanate Methyl (0.1 %) at 15 day intervals during the marble stage of ber fruit was found effective against Alternaria fruit rot recorded 6.8 PDI compared to untreated control recorded 43.6 PDI. Two pre-harvest sprays of 0.1 per-cent carbendazim at 15 day intervals was found effective against Colletotrichum fruit rot during the pea fruit stage of ber recorded 6.6 PDI compared to untreated control recorded 44.2 PDI. The post-harvest studies revealed that dipping of ber fruits in 2 per cent sodium chloride solution for 10 min. recorded the lowest PDI of 5.27 against post-harvest fungal rot as compared to untreated control recorded 25.27 PDI.

Optimization of extraction of starch from sweet potato and its application in making edible film

Present study is based on extraction of starch from sweet potato and then using the extracted starch to manufacture edible films. Gelatine and sweet potato starch based various films (1:1, 2:3, 1:3 and 1:5) have been developed and the optimized concentration of the films has been determined on the basis of functional properties. The characterization techniques, XRD, FTIR and SEM were used to identify the structure, bonds present, granular size and shape. The increase in health awareness among consumers has increased the demand in minimally processed and chemical free fruits and vegetables. Fresh, minimally processed produce can be enrobed in edible coverings made from the edible source to increase the nutritional value. Edible coatings films made from starch offers a possible method of increasing post harvest life providing a semi-permeable barrier for gaseous exchange. Such coatings can reduce respiration, water loss and acts as carrier of preservatives and antioxidants.

Micronutrients spray to combat granulation and improve fruit quality of sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] cv. Mosambi under nontraditional citrus growing track

Calcareous and alkaline soil is the major drawback for low yield and poor fruit quality of sweet orange cv. Mosambi with increased granulation problem because such types of soil hinders the smooth micronutrient uptake from the soil. Therefore, the impact of micronutrients spray for three times at one month intervals from May to July on granulation and fruit quality of Mosambi was initiated for two consecutive years (2018–19 and 2019–20). Combined application of Zn @0.5% + Fe @0.2% + B @0.3% + Cu @0.1% followed by B @0.3% + Fe @0.2% and Zn @0.5% + B @0.3% were found effective for improving growth of Mosambi plants. Yield was also obtained maximum in foliar spray of Zn @0.5% + Fe @0.2% + B @0.3% + Cu @0.1% (19.92 t ha−1). Maximum fruit weight and volume was obtained in B @0.3% + Fe @0.2% treatment (173.80 g and 190.53 cc, respectively). Fruit quality attributes in terms of total soluble solids (TSS): acid ratio, sugar, and phenol content were recorded maximum in Zn @0.5% + Fe @0.2% + B @0.3% + Cu @0.1% spray. Minimum incidence of granulation was observed in Cu @0.1% spray (1.96%) with par result in Zn @0.5% + Fe @ 0.2% + B @0.3% + Cu @0.1% (2.33%). Hence, it can be concluded that three foliar spray of Zn @0.5% + Fe @0.2% + B @0.3% + Cu @0.1% from May to July is very effective to get maximum yield of better quality, granulation free fruits from Mosambi orchard under non-conventional citrus growing track having calcareous and alkaline nature of soil.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND ART IN LATVIA

The correlation between art and archaeology in Latvia can be traced in vari- ous ways. First, despite all technical innovations there are still professional artists that work on field with archaeologists and are directly involved in the recording of archaeological evidence. Furthermore, art-related work is being done in reconstruc- tions, book illustrations and museum exhibitions. In addition to those who devote their artistic skills to scientific and educational purposes under the supervision of archaeologists, we can see quite a lot of artwork that represents something archaeo- logical while being the free fruits of artistic imagination. Archaeological science is of the opinion that inaccurate stylisations of archaeological costumes in movies or arbitrary depictions of some archaeological period in literary or any other work of art can very easily lead to false impressions and misunderstandings that endure for decades. On the other hand, scientists have no right to restrain the public from interpreting its own past as it deems fit. The aim of this paper is to discuss the relations and crossroads between art and archaeology by examining how they historically have developed, coexisted and influenced one another in the territory of Latvia from the 19th century till nowadays.

Theoretical study of damaging pomaceous fruits during machine harvesting

The article presents theoretical studies of contact of fruits with each other and with the transporting organs of the harvesting unit. Such contact is the main cause of damage, which negatively affects the safety of crop and the quality of products sold, and hence its cost. The paper considers the main, most probable ways of fruit contact: impact of fruit on a hard surface, impact of two free fruits and impact of fruit on the surface of densely lying fruits. It has been determined that fruits that are in contact during free rolling on the working surface receive the greatest damage. This is due to the fact that the contact pressure during the collision of free fruits is greater than the pressure when the fruit hits a flat surface. As a result of the study, the permissible speed of falling apples on the surface of their tightly lying fruits is 1.9 m/s at a falling height of 0.183 m and a ratio of the radii of the contacting fruits k = 1/2, or 1.25 m/s and 0.08 m at k =1, or 0.67 m/s and 0.023 m at k = 2. The results of the research were applied by Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Agriculture Mechanization in the development of a self-propelled universal unit for picking fruits and forming branches of fruit trees ASU-6.

Investigating the Effect of Contingent Valuation Question Formats on Households’ Willingness to Pay for Pesticides Free Fruits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of contingent valuation questions format on households ‘preferences revelation and willingness to pay (WTP) for chemicals free fruits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. A sample of 1000 randomly selected households, from rural and urban areas of the KP province, were confronted with three different WTP questions for chemicals free fruits-double bounded dichotomous choice question, open-ended question and payment card question. Results show that households’ willingness to pay price premium for chemicals free fruits were 14 percent from open-ended question, 16 percent from payment card format and 25 percent from double bounded question. Regression analyses identified head’s age, education, monthly income, awareness regarding use of pesticides in fruit production and their impact on human health and natural environment as important determinants of households’ stated WTP for chemicals free fruits. The study concludes that households are willing to pay substantial price premium for chemicals free fruits and recommends growers to start their production on commercial scale. Findings of this split-sample study reveals that results of contingent valuation method are sensitive to WTP question format and recommends that proper guidelines must be followed in order to get accurate and reliable results.

Influence of pre-harvest fruit bagging and plant cover on peel colour, physical appearance and quality traits of pomegranate fruits in arid conditions

Aim: To study the influence of fruit bagging and plant cover on microclimate modification and its role on external quality traits and physico-chemical fruit characteristics of pomegranate cv. Bhagwa in arid conditions. Methodology: Fruits bagging was done with single layer bags of news paper (NP), brown paper (BP), white parchment paper (PP), non-woven polypropylene (NWP), complete plant covering with non-woven polypropylene (CNWP), and un-bagged with no cover was kept as control. Bagging was done 60 days after fruit set and continued until harvest, each year. Results: Bagging and plant covering modified the microenvironment which positively influenced the fruit development. Among the bags, inside air temperature was higher in BP followed by NP, PP and NWP, while RH was higher in PP. PP bags was most effective for the development of attractive red peel color (a* value = 44.4) followed by NWP (a* value = 39.6) or CNWP (a* value = 36.6). All four bags were able to check thrips incidence completely, while PP bagging provided physical scratches or fungal spot free fruits. Physical attributes of fruits including fruit weight, aril weight, peel thickness and juice content were considerably affected. Interpretation: Fruit bagging or plant covering is simple, cost-effective and eco- friendly way to produce quality safe pomegranate fruits under adverse climatic conditions of arid regions.

Food Access, Food Consumption, and Children’s Nutritional Status of Smallholder Farmer in Sinabung’s Eruptions-Prone Areas, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Destructive impacts resulting from volcanic eruptions affect food production severely, leading to the deterioration of food access and food consumption. Thus, we spotted the urgency of researching food access, household food consumption, and nutritional status of children in Sinabung’s eruptions-prone areas, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 368 (158 farmers only and 228 farmers plus farm laborers) households headed by farmers. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Three indices were used for assessing the nutritional status of children namely weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ). Data on household food consumption were collected by using the food consumption score (FCS). The household food consumption among the two groups of farmers was significantly different. Farmers plus farm laborers had a slightly better variety of food since they could collect free vegetables and fruits from the fields where they were working as a farm laborers. Household food consumption was significantly associated with the nutritional status of children. But in the group of farmers-only, the correlation between household food consumption and underweight was not significantly associated. To improve food access and food consumption, the policymakers should provide information about other job opportunities (as an agricultural laborer on another farm) to the farmers, and help them to reach out to those jobs, especially during unpredictable circumstances like Sinabung’s eruptions.

Leveraging Community Resources to Provide a Box of Fruits and Vegetables to Low-Income Kentucky Appalachians Living in a Food Desert

Describe the results of distributing free fruits and vegetables to low income Appalachian Kentuckians. Low-income Appalachian Kentuckians often lack regular access to fresh food, especially fruits and vegetables (F/V). Compared to 23.4% of Americans, only 21.1% of Kentuckians and 19.0% of Appalachians meet the recommended daily F/V intake recommendations. Past studies have shown that low-income individuals did not tend to increase their F/V intake when they could choose where to spend their money when supermarket discounts and farmer’s market voucher programs were available to them. The current study explored if and how low-income Appalachian Kentuckians living in a food desert utilized a box of free fresh produce. The box included 20 pounds of culturally acceptable F/V that was distributed with a box of non-perishable foods provided by a local emergency food program. In October 2020, a pre-survey collected demographic information from 55 consented participants who received one food box. In November 2020, participants completed a follow-up food use survey. Most participants self-identified as white (92.6%) and female (85.2%). Almost all (98.0%) ate some of the F/V fresh and over half (61%) shared the F/V with others. One third preserved some and less than 10% threw some of the F/V away. The outcomes of this study suggest that distribution of fresh F/V through local food programs in low-income Appalachian Kentucky communities with food deserts may effectively increase F/V consumption. Collaborations between wholesale produce distributors and community outreach programs to provide fresh F/V could support healthier dietary intake in communities with limited accessibility to F/V.

The Effectiveness of Field Pest Management and Culling at Harvest for Risk Mitigation of Two Fruit Flies Affecting Citrus in China

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephrtitidae), and the Chinese citrus fly, Bactrocera minax (Enderlein) (Diptera: Tephritidae), are 2 destructive citrus fruit pests in China. A field study was conducted during Sep to Oct of 2018 in Dongkou County of Hunan Province to assess (1) fruit infestations at the time of harvest under 2 management levels, and (2) the efficacy of culling at harvest (i.e., visual inspection and removal of the infested fruits) on reducing the number of infested fruits. A total of 26,400 fruits of Satsuma mandarins, Citrus unshiu (Swingle) Marcov (Rutaceae), were harvested from 2 groves with 1 representing highly managed groves, and the other representing commonly managed groves (low management). Fruit culling was conducted immediately to separate fruits into 5 groups: (1) B. minax infested fruits, (2) B. dorsalis infested fruits, (3) B. minax + B. dorsalis infested fruits, (4) suspected fruit fly infested fruits, and (5) fruit fly free fruits. Fruit dissection was conducted 4 wk later to determine the actual number of the infested fruits, and also to act as a check on the accuracy of visual inspection on the reduction of the number of infested fruits. The highly managed grove had 0.02% infested fruits vs. 2.19% in the low managed grove, a 99.09% reduction in infestation rate. Culling reduced the infested rate to 0.0077% in the highly managed grove and 1.14% in the low managed grove, a reduction of 62% and 48%, respectively, compared to that before culling. About 99% and 73% of fruits which were identified as infested actually were pest free in the 2 groves, respectively. The result of this study suggests that field management is highly effective and critical in reducing fruit fly infestation. The efficacy of culling at harvest on reducing the number of infested fruits was moderate. The accuracy of using culling for identifying the infested fruits was unreliable.

Biopolymer-based Films and Coatings: Emerging Technologies to Extend Shelf-life of Fruits and Vegetables

Worldwide, consumers demand for fresh and chemical free fresh fruits and vegetables are continuously expanding, as these food items are rich in nutrition promoting good health and immunity. The primary challenge to cater to these increasing demands is the fact that fresh produce are perishable commodities, and need effective preservation strategies to successfully mitigate this challenge. Biopolymer based films and coatings have emerged as effective, biodegradable alternatives to their synthetic counterparts. Reinforcement of biopolymers with natural active agents such as essential oils and/or nanomaterials improves mechanical, thermal, barrier, and functional (antimicrobial and antioxidant) properties of these composite films and coatings. Numerous published reports have demonstrated that biopolymer-based films and coatings can effectively reduce weight loss, and postharvest decay such as biochemical and microbial spoilage of coated fresh fruits and vegetables resulting in their postharvest shelf-life extension by a few days to as long as a month. This review is a comprehensive account on applications of biopolymer based active, composite coatings and films for sustainable packaging of fresh produce.

<p><strong><em>Begonia tadungensis </em></strong><strong>(<em>Begonia </em>sect. <em>Platycentrum</em>), a new species from southern Vietnam</strong></p>

We here describe and illustrate Begonia tadungensis (B. sect. Platycentrum), a new species from southern Vietnam. The new species is most similar to B. albopunctata in having broadly ovate leaves, three free styles, 4-loculed ovary, and berry-like fruits with a beaked apex, but differs mainly in having a glabrous abaxial leaf surface (not densely red pubescent), and fruits with gray puberlous hairs (not white papillose). It is also similar to B. pendens in its broadly ovate leaves and monoecious breeding system, but differs in having 6 tepals in the pistillate flowers (not 5) and 4-loculed ovaries (not 3-loculed). Information on ecology, conservation status, and a further comparison of characters with these two similar species is also provided.

Carpological features of Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) of the flora of Ukraine

Objective – to carry out macro- and micromorphological studies of fruits and seeds of representatives of the genus Lonicera of the flora of Ukraine (both natural and introduced), to clarify their features, to provide additional characteristics and to evaluate the possibility of using carpological features for the diagnosis of taxa of the genus.
 Material and methods. Materials of the National Herbarium of the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (KW) and Herbarium of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (KWHA) were used, as well as samples from living plants of the collections of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden and O.V. Fomin Botanical Garden. The citations are given by the original text of the labels. The fruits and seeds of seven species of the genus (four are introduced and the other are species of natural flora), listed in “Vascular plants of Ukraine. A nomenclatural checklist”, have been studied. Morphological features of fruits and seeds were studied under light microscope (LM, MBS-9) and scanning electron microscope (SEM, JSM-6060 LA). Samples were sprayed with a layer of gold according to the standard method. The study was conducted at magnification from ×30 to ×3000. Descriptions of fruits and seeds were performed using terminology, summarized in specialized papers. Fruit and seed sizes were measured using Axio Vision Rel. 4.8.
 Results. The fruits of Lonicera species are free or adnate at the base, surrounded by, for the most part, free bracteoles. A pseudocarp of L. caerulea is formed of the bracteoles of paired flowers concrescent in a tubular cupule, which completely and tightly wraps free paired fruits. The L. nigra has an uneven concrescent of the bracteoles that freely surround the paired fruits, which have concrescent only at the base. The fruits of the species Lonicera are black and dark blue, or red and yellow. The fruits of subgenus Periclymenum (L. caprifolium, L. etrusca, L. periclymenum) are free and spherical . The subgenus Chamaecerasus species’ fruits are mainly spherical, but in some species the fruits are also hemispherical, elliptical and elongated (L. caerulea, L. tatarica). Fruits in this subgenus are free (L. caerulea, L. tatarica) or coalescent at the base (L. nigra, L. xylosteum). All the studied species are characterized by glabrous fruits, except fruits of L. xylosteum that are pubescent with glandular and simple hairs. The seeds are elliptical, ovoid, nearly spherical, flat, concave on one side and convex on the other side, with recess on the periphery and a crest in the center, at the base they mainly narrow-rounded. All species of the section Eucaprifolium and one species of the section Coeloxylosteum have truncated seeds. The surface of the seeds is almost similar and pitted; in L. xylosteum it is shallow-pitted, in L. nigra it is tubercular-pitted. In some species the seed surface is pitted and also flat cells are present.
 Conclusions. Based on the results of a critical review of literature materials and analysis of own data, the detailed characteristics of fruits and seeds of the representatives of the genus Lonicera L. within the flora of Ukraine have been compiled. These characteristics can be useful for more accurate identification of fruiting Lonicera plants. The species of the subgenus Periclymenum have exclusively free fruits, while the fruits in the subgenus Chamaecerasus are free or coalescent at the base. The features of color and shape of the fruits and seeds, the peculiarities of pubescence of the fruits are suggested to be used to distinguish L. caerulea, L. caprifolium, L. etrusca, L. nigra, L. periclymenum, L. tatarica and L. xylosteum. Analysis of the microstructure of the seeds surface revealed that there no features that can be used as diagnostic at the level of subsections, sections and subgenera. However, seeds microstructure showed some differences at the species level.

Analysis Of The Social And Cultural Values Contraining Increased African Apple Production In Anambra State Of Nigeria

This study analysed the social and cultural values constraining increased African Star Apple (ASA, Chrysophilum albidum) production in Anambra State of Nigeria. Data were collected using interview schedule on 80 respondents selected from six major assembly markets in six town communities of two Agricultural zones of the State. Ten respondents (5 men and 5 women) who are natives of the communities hosting the markets were selected through Snow ball sampling method (SBSM) from each of the markets. The interview schedule was mainly on yes or no questions. From the respondents, 7 in-depth interviews were conducted for detailed information on ASA important issues such as the crop’s feast activities, children’s song while under the trees and beliefs. Data were achieved with descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency distribution and Tables. The study showed that: ASA production and consumption in the study area are by 100% constrained with social and cultural norms such as none planting, none harvesting, public ownership and free fruits collection. The result also reveals that the studied communities differ in their ASA fruit selling and buying norms and in ASA feast in the past and that they do not easily change their norms except on certain conditions such as knowledge gain and sensitization. The study inter alia recommends that effort to increase or commercialize its production by entrepreneurs requires orientation or sensitization of the tradition custodians in the communities and adequate protection of the trees in farm fields or plantations.

Influence of Pre-Harvest Bagging on Fruit Quality of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Langra

Fruits are susceptible to insect pest infestations, bird attack, various pathogens, and mechanical damages, all of which can reduce their commercial value and thereby cause significant yield and economic losses. The objective of this study was to control mango pests and diseases as well as to improve the fruit quality of mango through bagging technology. An investigation was performed during the year 2016 from March to July for safe mango production by applying minimum use of pesticide entitled studies on influence of bagging on physico-chemical properties and shelf life of mango cv. Langra. The mango fruits were bagged at marble stage (40 days from fruit set) with different types of bags which constituted the various treatments viz: T1: Brown paper bag; T2: White paper bag; T3: Polythene bag T4: Muslin cloth bag; T5: No bagging (control). Bagging with brown paper bag and white paper bag improved fruit retention, weight of fruit, diameter of fruit, pulp weight, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, percent of citric acid, reducing sugars and β-carotene at harvest and ripe stage over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. In all cases good quality, cleaner, disease and insect free fruits were harvested. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown, white and muslin cloth bags were improved over control. Pre-harvest bagging also reduced occurrence of spongy tissue and the incidence of mealy bugs. These results indicate that fruit bagging can improve fruit quality through reduction in disease and insect-pest attack and shelf life of mango cv. Langra.

Efficiency of calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment on post-harvest performance of pear (Pyrus communis L.)

Calcium is present in the primary cell wall and middle lamella in the form of pectic substances of all plant tissues. The gradual penetration of calcium to cell wall results in increasing level of this ion in the cell wall and thus stabilization increases which may protects the fruit from fungal and other microbial attack or contamination. Keeping in view its importance, a post- harvest study was assessed at ARI Tarnab Farm, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to evaluate the effect of Calcium chloride (CaCI2) treatment on physio-chemical quality of pear (Pyrus communis L.) during storage. Fresh and disease free pear fruits were dipped in CaCl2 solution for (3, 6 and 9 minutes) and evaluated at 5 days interval for different physio-chemical attributes. The analysis of data showed that pear fruits dipped in CaCl2 solution for 9 minutes significantly affected the fruit juice pH, ascorbic acid, percent titratable acidity, total soluble solid, reducing sugar, and non-reducing sugar. Similarly, prolonged storage duration resulted a significant increasing trend in fruit juice pH, total soluble solids and non-reducing sugar, while ascorbic acid content, percent titratable acidity and reducing sugar decreased with extension in storage duration from zero to twenty-five days. It was concluded from the results that pear fruits dipped for 9 minutes in CaCl2 solution was effective in retaining quality attributes during storage at ambient temperature (20°C with 65-70% RH). Keywords: CaCl2, Dipping time, Le-Conte, Physiological disorder, Post-harvest loses, Shelf life http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80053