Role of Packaging in Preservation of Coconut Products

Coconut, also known as ‘Kalpavriksha’, is a versatile crop that is widely cultivated in tropical countries for its fruit, sap, lumber, fiber, coconut water, coconut meat, oil, etc. The fruit is normally harvested at two different stages of development for human consumption: mature and immature. Mature coconuts are usually harvested for their meat, whereas immature coconuts are harvested for their tender meat and sweet liquid endosperm/ tender coconut. Moreover, numerous other value-added products are being made from coconut sap, coconut meat, and coconut water. Although there are many conventional and novel food processing technologies for the preservation and extension of shelf life of these food products, post-processing techniques, especially packaging and storage conditions, also play a vital role in defining the quality of the final product. Moreover, proper packaging materials design could also provide better convenience, consumer acceptance, and sustainability. Therefore, in this chapter, the key aspects of packaging along with its influence on shelf life on coconut-based products are discussed.