Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Retain Antioxidants Long After Purchase

The life of a post-harvest fruit or vegetable is traditionally defined in terms of visual appearance and texture. While this is good for aesthetics, these benchmarks disregard flavor and nutritional quality--especially with regards to antioxidants, which are affected by genetic, technological and environmental factors. "No important studies were done to evaluate the influence of storage on antioxidant capacity," the authors said.

To that end, Claire Kevers and colleagues obtained various produce from the Belgian market, measuring its initial antioxidant content. They then stored the fruits and vegetables at room temperature or refrigerated them at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, checking antioxidant levels at various times until the produce presented visual spoilage.

The results showed that, in the days following purchase, fruits and vegetables do not lose any phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid or flavonols -- a trio of chemical classes associated with antioxidant content. "Better, in some cases, an increase on the antioxidant capacity was observed in the days following their purchase, accompanied by an increase in phenolic compounds," the researchers state.

The study  "Evolution of Antioxidant Capacity during Storage of Selected Fruits and Vegetables"   will appear in the Oct. 17 issue the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,