FRESHNESS-RETAINING AGENT AND METHOD FOR AGRICULTURAL/HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS

摘要

A freshness-retaining agent for an agricultural or horticultural product comprises an organic acid and a hydrgencarbonate. The organic acid may preferably be an organic acid which in the presence of water given off from the agricultural or horticultural product, reacts with the hydrogencarbonate such that carbon dioxide gas is gradually generated, for example, cinnamic acid, benzoic acid or citric acid or a derivative thereof. The hydrgencarbonate may preferably be sodium hydrogencarbonate. The freshness of the agricultural or horticultural product can be retained by causing the freshness-retaining agent to exist in the same atmosphere as the agricultural or horticultural product such that the freshness-retaining agent is allowed to gradually generate carbon dioxide gas in the presence of water given off from the agricultural or horticultural product.