A farmer, Deepa, was very happy with the harvest of amla (Indian Gooseberry) and lemons on her farm. However, she could sell only one-fourth of the produce in the local market. Recognising that a significant amount of produce may be lost post-harvest, she employed a traditional yet scientifically sound method to extend the shelf life of amla and lemons. She turned perishable produce into profitable products, such as pickles and sharbat. She used the excess produce to prepare pickles, murabbas, and sharbat by adding appropriate amounts of salt, sugar, or jaggery to small pieces of fruit and their juices. These were then stored in small glass bottles for sale, helping her prevent the wastage of post-harvest produce. This shift from farming to agro-processing would strengthen food security and boost the local economy, creating a sustainable model that cuts waste while increasing her income. Based on the above passage answer the following questions:
Which scientific concept has the farmer applied in the preservation of the farm produce?
The farmer applied the scientific concept of the effect of concentrated solutions on cells, where cells shrink or become rubbery and limp in concentrated salt or sugar solutions.
How does the addition of high concentrations of salt and sugar create an environment that prevents the growth of spoilage-causing bacteria and fungi?
High concentrations of salt and sugar create a concentrated external environment that causes the cells of spoilage-causing bacteria and fungi to shrink or become limp, similar to how a potato or carrot shrinks in a concentrated salt solution, thus preventing their growth.
Suggest a healthy recipe of this kind for food preservation.
A healthy recipe is preparing amla murabba or lemon sharbat by adding appropriate amounts of jaggery to small pieces of fruit and their juices, and storing them in small glass bottles.
What are the scientific values addressed in this case?
The scientific values addressed include creating a sustainable model that cuts waste, strengthening food security, boosting the local economy, and applying scientifically sound methods to prevent post-harvest wastage.
Explanation
The answers are derived directly from the provided context. Part (i) and (ii) connect the case study's preservation method using salt and sugar to the observed effects of concentrated solutions on potato and carrot cells in the context (shrinking/becoming rubbery and limp). Part (iii) uses the specific fruits and the healthier sweetener (jaggery) mentioned in the text. Part (iv) extracts the scientific and societal values explicitly stated in the passage, such as sustainability, food security, and economic boost.