Calcium ascorbate is a compound with the molecular formula CaC12H14O12. It is the calcium salt of ascorbic acid, one of the mineral ascorbates.
As a food additive, it has the E number E 302. It is approved for use as a food additive in the EU, USA and Australia and New Zealand. Among its many uses is to keep apples fresh, so they do not turn brown quickly. This process arose out of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the USDA and Mantrose Haeuser, a U.S specialty coatings manufacturer, who hold a joint patent covering the application of calcium ascorbate to maintain shelflife in fresh-cut fruit and vegetables.