Chapter 13

Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits

and Vegetables

Peter M. A. Toivonen, Elizabeth J. Mitcham and Leon A. Terry

Abstract  This chapter describes existing postharvest care of fruits and vegetables
in both the developing and developed economies of the world. Food waste is the
metric which reveals the success or failure of the existing postharvest care. Figures
vary depending on the source and the assumptions made to arrive at the estimated
waste values but all agree that fruit and vegetable waste is at least 30 % of the
production. Reasons for losses in the developing economies of the world relate to
lack of basic postharvest technologies and access to adequate and reliable cooling.
However, there are many societal issues that also impact on successful distribution
of fruits and vegetables in developing economies. In developed economies, waste is
associated at the distribution/retail/consumer levels and the underlying reasons for
these losses are not so much the lack of or access to technology, rather to structure
and function of the marketing chain. Capability to store product longer or transport
it further does not necessarily lead to lower losses, however it does lead to greater
distribution of availability over time or over distance. Consumer behavior and psy-
chology play a significant role in waste at both the retail and home levels. While
there continues to be numerous challenges for postharvest care of fruits and veg-
etables, the chapter provides some insight to the directions that must be followed
to reduce wastage and enhance the availability of good quality, nutritious fruits and
vegetable to all in developing and developed economies.

P. M. A. Toivonen ()
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre,
Summerland BC V0H 1Z0, Canada
e-mail: [email protected]
E. J. Mitcham
Horticulture Innovation Lab, University of California,
One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
L. A. Terry
Plant Science Laboratory, Vincent Building,
Cranfield University, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK
e-mail: [email protected]
G. R. Dixon, D. E. Aldous (eds.), Horticulture: Plants for People and Places, Volume 1, 465
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8578-5_13, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
466 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

Keywords  Postharvest · Quality · Transport · Distribution · Refrigeration · Fruits ·

Vegetables · Food waste

Introduction

Postharvest handling encompasses operations at harvest, transport to a packing fa-

cility, storage and transport technologies to preserve horticultural products until
delivery to a customer whether they be local, national or international. The best
possible outcome that can be achieved in postharvest operations is the preservation
of the quality of the fruit or vegetable in its original condition at harvest. While that
is the optimal goal, it can rarely be achieved in reality.
The final consequence for inadequate postharvest care is the loss or waste of that
fruit or vegetable. Extent of postharvest loss varies depending on the industry con-
text, i.e. whether we are discussing practices in developing or developed economies
and whether we are discussing local/regional or international distribution/marketing
chains. It is interesting to note that total losses of fruits and vegetables are generally
40–50 % in both developed and developing economy countries, with the exception
of industrialized Asia where losses are estimated at less than 40 % (Gustavsson et al.
2011). It is instructive to analyze where the losses occur in the postharvest con-
tinuum. Generally, losses in postharvest handling, processing and distribution are
greater in the developing world, where much greater proportional losses are found
at the marketing/distribution/consumer level in developed economies, including in-
dustrialized Asia (Gustavsson et al. 2011). This observation leads to the conclusion
that the postharvest care challenges and issues facing the developing world econo-
mies versus the developed world are quite different in nature and more importantly
are produce and even cultivar specific.
A number of technologies have developed over the last century which has en-
abled remarkable quality retention for most products. The greatest impact has been
due to implementation of refrigeration technologies. The widespread use of modern
mechanical refrigeration systems has allowed for longer term storage and transport
of most commodities from local to international scales. Refrigeration still continues
to be a challenge to successful postharvest care of fruits and vegetables in develop-
ing economies where lack of infrastructure is a constraint on access to refrigeration
(Anon 2011). This issue will be discussed further later in this chapter.
Other technologies have been employed to augment refrigeration in modern
postharvest handling chains. These technologies include ethylene control (either
treatment with or methods to remove), ethylene action inhibition (1-methylcyclo-
propene), modified atmosphere packaging, controlled atmosphere storages, con-
trolled atmosphere transport trailers, coatings and waxes, and postharvest disease
and insect control (Yahia 2009). Such technologies have been important largely for
long term storage and/or long distance shipping in national and in international mar-
keting chains. In fact, without the development of these other technologies, a large
component of international trade in fruits and vegetables would not be possible.
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 467

Whether these developments have always reduced total losses for specific fresh
produce types is debatable as often technologies which have extended storage have
not ultimately reduced waste but increased availability and the prospect of sourcing
from different origins.
Implementation of storage technologies has been a consequence of need to ex-
tend the duration for availability of fruits and vegetables (Yahia 2009). The most
successful example of postharvest technology is that of controlled atmosphere stor-
age of apples (Yahia 2009). As international transport and postharvest transport
technologies have evolved, the goal was transformed to enabling orderly, profitable
marketing of fruits and vegetables to whatever market demands the product (Yahia
2009). Despite the driving force of optimizing profit, there are layers of marketing
chains that attempt to continue to serve the original purpose, that of preserving
product to local and regional consumers such that the season for availability is ex-
tended as much as possible and yet this does not always translate to minimization
of losses.
Clearly, postharvest care for fresh fruits and vegetables is a complex issue, im-
pacted by the location of the producer (developed or developing economies), the
intended market (local, regional, national or international) and the sophistication of
the distribution chain and ultimately the changing factors and drivers which influ-
ence consumer demand. The intent of this chapter is to gain an appreciation for is-
sues surrounding postharvest care in developing economies, sustaining horticulture
in developed economies and in reducing losses and ensuring optimal quality and
nutrition for consumers.

Role of Postharvest Technology in Developing

and Emerging Economies

Postharvest losses in the developing world can be substantial. Losses range from
30 to 80 %, depending on the commodity (Kitinoja et al. 2011). For example, leafy
greens which are subject to physical damage and high rates of water loss can suffer
80 % loss after harvest. In addition, in the developing world, losses tend to occur
between the grower and the market, rather than at the consumer level; opposite to
the developed world (Kader 2005, 2010). With the world population expected to
exceed 9 billion by 2050, there are urgent calls to greatly increase food availability.
Reduction in postharvest losses is a key factor in increasing food availability in a
sustainable manner.
Postharvest losses are very high in the developing world due to a number of
factors, including harvesting at improper maturity, rough handling and poor pack-
aging leading to physical damage, lack of protection from water loss leading to
wilting, shrivel and loss of saleable weight, inadequate transportation to market,
and lack of cooling or cold storage capabilities (largely due to unreliable electrical
power supplies).
468 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

Challenges to Adapting Postharvest Technologies to a Developing

World Scale

Why is postharvest handling so poorly managed in these regions? A number of

factors clearly play a role, including a lack of incentives to improve practices in
anticipation of a higher market price, lack of awareness of improved practices that
might be used, lack of resources to invest in supplies or technologies, particularly
for smallholder farmers, lack of availability or high tariffs on imported supplies,
and policies that provide a disincentive to changing practices (Kader 2005, 2010).
Also, poor access to developing markets and poor distribution channels and the lack
of vertical integration in the supply chain contribute to the challenge (Kader 2005,
2010).
For farmers and traders to be encouraged to adopt improved postharvest prac-
tices, there must be a benefit gained from the sale of higher quality produce. Grade
standards or specifications are often non-existent in many parts of the world and
there is a lack of trust between buyers and sellers. Also, products often change
hands many times between the farm and the market, reducing the vertical integra-
tion between care in product handling and potential for better prices.
Lack of knowledge is another challenge. Many who grow and handle produce
have no experience with or knowledge of improved handling practices. Training
and demonstrations can illuminate the benefits of simple practices like harvesting
early in the day, protecting product from the sun, or using plastic bags to reduce
water loss.
Farmers and handlers in developing countries often lack the resources to invest
in postharvest technologies. Access to capital through microfinance or savings pro-
grams is possible, but farmers must be convinced of the return on their investment.
This requires linkage to a reliable market that will provide a fair price for the prod-
uct’s quality. More expensive technologies, such as small scale cold rooms, would
generally require that an association of farmers or a village pool their resources for
such an investment.
In many countries, supplies taken for granted in the developed world, such as
thermometers, packaging materials, clippers, and sanitizers are not manufactured
locally and are either unavailable for purchase or are only available at a much high-
er price due to shipping costs and tariffs.
There are a number of examples of policies that create disincentives to im-
proved postharvest practices. For example, in some cases, transportation costs are
based on the number of packages, not the size or weight of the package. This
has led to use of extremely large crates for transport of bulk produce, leading to
crushing of fruit on the bottom as well as challenges in careful handling of these
products. In other cases, extra tall sacks are used for produce packaging so that
they fill the width of the truck bed for maximum space utilization during transit.
In India, a law related to produce marketing required that all produce be sold
through wholesale markets (Kitinoja et al. 2011). This had precluded farmers from
developing relationships for direct marketing to supermarkets or export markets.
This law has recently changed in some parts of India and it has only just been
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 469

Fig. 13.1   Scientists at the

United States Department
of Agriculture, Agricultural
Research Service developed a
process (going from front to
back in the photo) by which
chicken feathers are shred-
ded, powdered, converted to
pellets, and then transformed
into biodegradable plastics.
Photograph is used with
the kind permission of the
USDA-ARS

abolished throughout the country. It is likely that this change will open up markets
to multiple retailers thereby resulting in greater efficiencies as seen in other parts
of the globe.

Needs for Research and Implementation of Logistics and Supply

Chain Management.

There are three critical research needs for improving postharvest handling in the
developing world: development of inexpensive, sustainable packaging, food safety
strategies that work when water supply is scarce, and affordable strategies for cold
storage and cool transport. Regarding packaging, there is a need for inexpensive but
sturdy crates or boxes (Kitinoja et al. 2012). Returnable Plastic Containers (RPCs)
are a possible option, but are expensive, subject to theft, and generally not produced
locally. The benefits of a reusable packaging system may outweigh however, the
challenges to its effective implementation (Manalili et al. 2011). Perhaps a package
could be developed from locally available, natural materials. Chicken feathers have
been suggested as one possible material that might be feasible (Fig. 13.1). Plastic
bags are very useful to reduce moisture loss of harvested produce, but their use for
470 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

many purposes (mostly not related to produce) have resulted in extreme pollution
due to ineffective waste disposal systems. The problem is so bad that many coun-
tries are considering banning their use and Rwanda has already banned the use of
plastic bags. An alternative technology should be developed that is inexpensive and
sustainable, and serves the purpose of maintaining high relative humidity around
the product.
Food safety is the most important topic for marketing of fresh produce. Unsafe
use of pesticides during production of fruits and vegetables is a frequent issue,
including use of unregistered materials, application at higher than approved dos-
age, lack of protective clothing and training of operators, and applications close
to harvest and consumption. Microbial safety of fresh produce is also a significant
problem. Consumption of raw fruits and vegetables increases the chances that
microbial contamination can sicken consumers. Many of the recommended strate-
gies for reducing the risk of contamination with human pathogens are particularly
challenging to implement in the developing world. For example, the recommen-
dation to wash one’s hands after using sanitary facilities is a luxury in many lo-
cations. Water for hand washing is often not available in adequate amounts, and
clean water is often unavailable. Soap for washing is also not readily available.
Research is needed to develop convenient and affordable strategies to overcome
these obstacles to human hygiene to make significant progress in microbial safety
of fresh produce.
Finally, a lack of cooling, cool transport, and cold storage facilities is a major
challenge to reducing postharvest losses in developing countries. Cooling technolo-
gy is generally expensive and requires electricity that is often unavailable. A number
of small-scale, inexpensive coolers have been developed (Kitinoja and Thompson
2010), but many are based on evaporative cooling which has limited cooling capac-
ity, especially in humid environments. Innovative engineers must be incentivized
to develop strategies to address this need in a cost-effective and scale appropriate
manner. Technologies have been developed for keeping life-saving medicines and
blood cool. These technologies can potentially be adapted for use on a larger scale
for produce transport. Improved insulation can be used to maintain products at low-
er temperatures after harvest and can be effective when combined with harvesting
at the coolest time of the day.

Successes

There have been a few modest successes in adoption of technologies for postharvest
handling in developing countries. A small-scale, lower cost cold room technology,
the Cool-Bot, is beginning to be adopted in several parts of the world (Anon 2012a).
The Cool-Bot uses a special controller developed by Keep It Cool, Inc. based in
New York, USA (http://keepitcoolinc.com) together with a window air conditioner.
The two are installed in an insulated room that can be made of a variety of materials,
including locally sourced natural materials. The cost of this unit is considerably less
than a traditional cold room, and the unit can be run using solar power in remote
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 471

areas. Research is underway to adapt this technology this for cool transportation.
These small-scale cold rooms have been adopted by a number of small-scale farm-
ers in the U.S. as well.
The concept of a Postharvest Training and Services Center was developed by
Dr. Lisa Kitinoja, founder of the Postharvest Education Foundation. Two such
centers have been created, one in Tanzania and one in India. The centers have
facilities for training of trainers and farmers in postharvest practices, including
demonstrations of the effects of improved practices. In addition, the Centres have
a supply of materials needed for improved postharvest handling, such as packag-
ing, harvest umbrellas, clippers and thermometers that are available for sale. It
is hoped that this type of center will be replicated in many parts of the develop-
ing world. The Postharvest Education Foundation and the Horticulture Innovation
Lab (formerly Horticulture CRSP) have funded the training of several individuals
in Africa and Asia who can provide training in postharvest practices to farmers,
handlers and technicians who work with farmers and handlers (Anon 2012b).

Future Outlook

There is tremendous room for improvement in postharvest handling of harvested

horticultural products. By increasing awareness of simple practices, we can reduce
losses and improve the quantity and quality of food available to consumers. Hope-
fully, improved practices will allow fruits and vegetables to eventually be sold at
lower prices to increase consumption and result in improved health. Development
of innovative, adapted technologies will assist resource poor farmers in adoption of
improved practices.

Role of Postharvest Technology in Sustaining Horticulture

in Developed Economies

Importance of Quality Management in Advanced

Supply Chains

Supply chains in developed economies and even those within some emerging econ-
omies, which service their burgeoning populations, have over recent decades be-
come ever more globalized and more interconnected. This situation together with
the increased use of just-in-time logistics and lean manufacturing has undoubtedly
led to greater efficiencies, but perhaps to more risk in terms of resilience.
Food prices in recent times have generally been increasing across the world, no-
tably with spikes in 2008, 2010 and 2012 (Fig.13.2) (Anon 2013). This trend is caus-
ing concern amongst governments, consumers and industry. In many parts of the
developed world profits within the fresh produce sector are being forever squeezed
472 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

Fig. 13.2   World nominal food price index for the new millennium. The FAO Food Price Index is
a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. Data for
January 2000 to March 2013 extracted from FAO database (Anon 2013)

in the present economic environment, whilst inflation for fruits and vegetables re-
mains stubbornly high. Demand is also relatively static, with some standard lines
for many fresh produce types falling out of favor to products of lower specification.
The problem is compounded by consumer purchasing power and confidence being
at an extended low ebb. Yet a dichotomy exists whereby quality demands for horti-
cultural products keep increasing or at least are at an unsustainable level, such that
something has to change or break in order for the industry and growers to remain
competitive and continue to invest in new postharvest technologies. The incentives
for doing so seem to be centered on gaining market share in a period of austerity
and reducing waste through implementing stricter key performance indicators with
the view that things will eventually turn and become more favorable. The scope for
introducing new postharvest technologies in a stagnant market is therefore limited.
Quality remains the mainstay of many supermarket offerings as it can markedly
influence footfall, market share and the incidence of customer defections. Qual-
ity is intimately linked with postharvest technology and biology, yet the drivers of
demand are increasing centered on price and promotions (e.g. buy one get one free
and multi-buys). Since 2008, promotions are being used more widely by retailers
in the developed world to increase the affordability of fruit and vegetables as well
as attract new customers (and stop customer defecting to other stores). In this sense
they are part of the discussion about price/value and can increase footfall.
The effectiveness of fruit and vegetable promotions on demand is difficult to
analyze. For example, promotions are usually time-limited and are traditionally
used to celebrate the season and clear ‘gluts’. Where flushes or gluts are predict-
able (e.g. release from end of storage apples) then they can perform a valuable role
in promoting greater product utilization and decreased waste, but even so may not
increase demand overall. Another possible impact is that consumers’ simply switch
away from a product that is not being promoted to one that is. If both are fruits,
for example, there is no overall increase in fruit purchases—a process known as
product ‘cannibalization’. Promotions can have other unforeseen consequences that
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 473

may not be accounted for in forecasting. For instance, where a promotion works too
well, it may lead to the necessity to supply product from a lesser standard or dif-
ferent quality tier so as not to fall short (e.g. not satisfactory conditioning potatoes
before packing which can increase waste or using premium potato variety in a lower
tier). When customers over-purchase as a result of being tempted by promotions
then complaints can increase not only because of the pressure to deliver in full,
but also because consumers may store more product at home. Often this product is
kept under sub-optimal storage conditions, and the consumer becomes disappointed
when they attempt to consume the product beyond its inherent home-life. This then
may lead to increased waste in the home and/or depression of future sales due to
customer dissatisfaction.
Promotions are being overused in the current climate such that consumers are
suffering from ‘promotion fatigue’ and are confused over the basis of some such
offers. The overuse of promotions (e.g. up to 50–80 % for some categories now
sold) is destroying the price structure of the whole fresh produce category and
actually making promotions less effective (Terry et al. 2013). It was highlighted
by Terry et al. (2011) that the impact and mechanics of promotions should be bet-
ter understood from both an industry and consumer perspective and this recom-
mendation still holds. Although the vast majority of promotions are collectively
agreed between retailers and suppliers, there are some which are imposed with
little thought on availability and how postharvest technology might be better uti-
lized. The frequency and timing of some promotions is often governed more by
retailer positioning rather than by being aligned to the biology of the product, to
oversupply/availability or even recognized seasonal demand. Multi-buy promo-
tions and changing pack sizes across a range of categories may be confusing con-
sumers. It is now unclear whether consumers understand promotions and indeed
the true price of different fruit and vegetable lines as they have little to compare
prices with (Terry et al. 2013).
Even though the choice of fruit types available to the consumer in developed
economies is now vast there is contraction in that varietal choice within many fruit
species can be limited. For example, out of the hundreds of mango cultivars grown
worldwide barely 10 are available through the global market (Table 13.1) (Araújo
and Garcia 2012; Anon 2012c). Most of these preferred cultivars have been se-
lected for their inherently long postharvest life so that they can withstand global
trade. They have rarely been selected for flavor or taste and this problem stands
for many other fruit and vegetables such as avocado [Hass and Fuerte], and ba-
nana [Cavendish]. Thus, despite postharvest technologies being available to extend
storage there is often a trade-off between taste and postharvest life. The industry
often selects cultivars which have longer postharvest life rather than investing in
technologies which might be used to increase the postharvest life of better tasting
types. Concomitant to this, many fruits are still harvested at premature horticultural
stages to ensure extended storage or shelf life even though postharvest technolo-
gies might be available to allow fresh produce to be harvested later and thus ensure
greater consumer appeal. Implementing postharvest technologies is costly so that a
reasonable return must be realized on that investment and financial outlay. If there
474 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

Table 13.1   Major cultivars European Union US

of mango marketed in the
Haden Ataulfo
European Union and the
United States. Cultivars in Kent Francis
italics are the most important Keitt Keitt
in terms of sales volume for Tommy Atkins Kent
each market Alfonso Tommy Atkins
Julie Alphonse (Alphonso)
Zill Edward
Osteen Kesar
Maya Manila
Shelly
Palmer

is declining propensity from consumers in developed economies to pay more for

fruits and vegetables then the slow decline in fresh produce diversity and increase in
commoditization will continue amongst middle income social economic groupings.
There is no uniform approach to quality in the retail market. Instead, each of the
multiple retailers has developed a ‘quality position’ in terms of the products they
sell as well as the shopping experience they provide (Terry et al. 2013). Retailers
will use their ‘quality position’ to differentiate themselves from each other, to at-
tract particular types of customer to their stores and to develop specifications for
their suppliers. These specifications are particularly important for the retailers ‘own
label’ ranges including the majority of fruit and vegetables.
In many developed economies the major multiple retailers have developed three
quality tiers for their fruit and vegetables (Terry et al. 2013). These have various
names depending on the retailer but can be broadly categorized as follows: Pre-
mium, Standard and Basic/Value. These three tiers provide a basis for understand-
ing fruit and vegetable quality across large parts of the retail market but cannot be
applied in every case. Even in the retailers that recognize three quality tiers it does
not follow that all fruit and vegetables are offered at every quality level, for example
typically bananas are just offered as a standard or value range whereas apples are
commonly sold at all three levels. Indeed, some products may be offered in the
premium tier for only certain periods because they depend on a particular cultivar
being available in the season.
Some fruit and vegetables have additional branding like Organic or Fair Trade or
carry a carbon label or some other differentiator for example ‘Red Tractor’. These
types of branding are not generally used as a quality attribute, that is the presence
or absence of one or another mark does not lead the retailer to automatically assign
that product to a particular quality tier. In other words these attributes have only a
secondary influence on the retailers’ quality positioning for fruit and vegetables.
In the fresh produce industry in developed economies, there are few truly dedi-
cated supply chains; instead the major growers/suppliers tend to have multiple cus-
tomers (Terry et al. 2013). The advantage of this approach is that it ensures the
crop is better utilized. Typically the way this works is that suppliers have multiple
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 475

primary customers among the major retailers (and in some cases foodservice opera-
tors). Specific crops and cultivars will be grown for a specific primary customer
according to pre-determined planting programs which are, where possible, agreed
upon ahead of the season and are informed by historic data on consumption and
other market intelligence. For products where demand is predictable and is less af-
fected by weather or where extended storage can better ensure extended availability
(e.g. apples, onions and potatoes) these procurement programs tend to work well.
For products where demand is more volatile then there is an increase risk that pro-
curement programs fail. Growers will usually over produce to ensure that product
can always be supplied in full and this may have an influence on crop utilization and
waste (Terry et al. 2011). It could be argued that excess volume is in commercial
interest and that growers must fulfill orders or risk losing business. There is recogni-
tion that over-programming can result in increased waste, but it is also understood
that some degree of buffering against unforeseen problems in supply is essential.
Procurement programs are influenced by planned promotional activity. For ex-
ample for strawberries, retailers determine promotional campaigns and these plans
are discussed with suppliers, yet they are based on key dates, e.g. events in the
social calendar viz. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Tournament and predictable crop
flushes and are aimed to maximize crop utilization.
As a season progresses and crops near maturity allocations can be made between
quality tiers and customers (Terry et al. 2013). For example, if a crop grown for the
premium tier fails to meet the desired specification then it may be switched to the
standard or even value tier. This practice can undermine however, the differentia-
tion between the quality tier offerings if noticed or understood by consumers. When
a crop does not meet a specification and where there are limited alternatives for
downgrading or alternative sourcing then specifications can be relaxed. Often the
difference between tiers is largely subjective and will vary from time to time and
according to variety, sizes and pack formats. The flexibility of the fresh produce
industry in many developed economies enables the shifting of crop between quality
tiers depending on shortage/surplus position such that specifications will differ by
tier but can be fairly flexible depending on volumes available. Fruit ‘tiering’ is more
resilient as it is more based on cultivar whereas vegetables and salads are more dif-
ficult to tier.
Although specifications are regarded by all retailers as key to defining and dif-
ferentiating apparent product quality and are stringently adhered to, there is still
some degree of plasticity when availability is stretched (i.e. as seen in 2012/2013
as a result of the poor weather conditions in Northern Europe during 2012). The
advantage of the three tier system allows for some degree of product differentiation.
If the crop does not meet the specification of any primary customer then it is usually
switched to processing or wholesale markets (though increasingly both these ‘sec-
ondary’ markets also require products grown to a specification) (Terry et al. 2013).
It is inevitable that there will be product that does not meet any market specifica-
tion. The amounts will vary product by product and season by season (Terry et al.
2011). These products will suffer quality defects including disease that may make
them unsuitable for human consumption. These products will be variously used for
476 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

animal feed, as feedstock for anaerobic digester (AD) plants and as soil amend-
ments applied to land. It is clear that no successful grower intentionally grows lower
grade products as the returns are less and they will endeavor to utilize crop where
there is an economic gain in doing so.
Underpinning each of the quality tiers is a specification which is usually much
more detailed than the EU or other international marketing standards. These speci-
fications are usually commercially sensitive. Inevitably, however, there is often
some degree of commonality between specifications used by many retailers, es-
pecially when considering a specific product in a single quality tier. Indeed, many
suppliers supply more than one retailer and the differentiation between specifica-
tions is less than might be assumed. In developed economies, specifications are
fundamentally based on visual appearance (e.g. size, shape and color uniformity)
and freedom from defects (e.g. disease, blemish, bruising or even susceptibility
to bruising physiological disorder); however cultivar and other attributes such as
taste and flavor which are also related to consumer preference (for some products)
are also important e.g. apples attaining threshold firmness and total soluble solids
content. Specifications are enforced by internal quality control inspections by sup-
pliers and retail customers. This said, the statistical validity of these inspections
is questionable. There is typically little tolerance for severe aesthetic defects even
for basic/value tiers. Specifications determine the assignment of products to each
quality tier, yet it is true that some specifications for certain product types are
solely based on physical attributes such as appearance. This does not mean that
these specifications are not useful as the importance of appearance should not be
underestimated (Terry et al. 2013).
It is easy to criticize specifications, but it should be acknowledged that non-
adherence to most specifications can markedly influence consumer preference and
purchasing decisions (Terry et al. 2013). Customer complaints and increasingly oth-
er feedback mechanisms are used to judge whether specifications reflect consumer
purchasing behavior. Yet, the accuracy of customer complaints is questionable.

Research Needs and Impact on Sustainability

There is a misconception that extending postharvest life always will reduce waste
and loss. The relationship is more complex and is related to appreciation of the
influence that management practices have on postharvest biology. For example,
where demand is predictable then waste and loss levels will be minimized even if
a product has a short shelf life (e.g. post climacteric bananas). On the other hand,
where demand is unpredictable because of weather influencing consumption (e.g.
unforeseen cold weather reducing strawberries and salad consumption even when
hot weather has been forecast) then there may be a propensity to oversupply such
that the residence time of product in store (often at sub optimum conditions) is in-
creased leading to greater risk of waste (Terry et al. 2011). Thus, although the use
of innovative postharvest technologies is often needed it is their implementation
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 477

that also needs to be taken into account in the context of supply chain management.
Despite this, numerous technological advances have been shown to reduce waste
and extend availability; yet it is questionable whether all technologies are sustain-
able in the long-term. The ubiquity of low temperature storage in recent decades
has helped to significantly reduce postharvest waste of fruit and vegetables. Most in
the postharvest community believe that maintaining the cool chain is a pre-requisite
before any other technologies are considered. It is true that cold storage can vastly
increase postharvest life. But the overreliance on cooling systems in developed sup-
ply chains and allied just-in-time logistics may not be sustainable or resilient in the
long term.
Alternative or supplementary technologies which might allow for extended post-
harvest life without the over-reliance of cool storage may become more common
place. For instance, the targeted use of next generation controlled atmosphere stor-
age (e.g. ultra low oxygen and dynamic controlled atmosphere systems (Watkins
2008a), ethylene control, genetic modification, and novel packaging innovations
may allow for products to be stored at slightly higher temperatures.
The removal of ethylene and/or inhibition of its action in stored environments
are fundamental to maintaining the postharvest quality of most climacteric produce.
In recent years, however, there has been a paucity of research on developing new
and more efficacious ethylene scrubbing materials. In contrast, there has been an
exponential increase in research using the ethylene binding inhibitor 1-MCP (Lu
et al. 2008). Despite availability of various ethylene scrubbing technologies (e.g.
high temperature catalytic degradation, activated carbon) most commercial ethyl-
ene control systems rely on both adequate ventilation (often periodic) and oxida-
tion of ethylene using potassium permanganate. Ventilation, however, is not ap-
propriate in sealed environments (e.g. controlled atmosphere or some packaging
formats) or where precise ethylene control is required. Ethylene supplementation
has been shown to extend storage life of onions and potatoes even though they are
low ethylene producers Cools et al. (2011). Ethylene inhibition using substances
like 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) (Blankenship and Dole 2003; Watkins 2006;
Watkins 2008b; Lu et al. 2008) and ethylene scrubbers (Terry et al. 2007; Smith
et al. 2009; Meyer and Terry 2010; Elmi et al. 2012) have been shown to improve
postharvest storage.

Future Outlook

The disparity in quality of fresh produce between developed and developing econo-
mies is unsustainable. Yet, despite this realization and much talk, little in the way
of a global consensus and viable action planning has been forthcoming. Developed
economies have had an unparalleled period of relative and sustained growth until
2008 and this has inevitably affected fresh produce supply chains. The large multi-
national retailers continue to dominate at the expense of less efficient outlets that do
not possess the market intelligence, buyer power, convenience offerings and mass
market appeal. The future dominance of emerging markets is becoming more like-
478 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

ly, such that it is unclear whether all socio-economic groupings within developed
economies will continue to have access to the quality and choice of produce which
they might have expected or have become accustomed to. Better and more targeted
implementation of innovative postharvest technologies is required to ensure the sus-
tainable supply of a diverse range of fruit and vegetables in the future.

Role of Postharvest Technology in Reducing Losses and

Ensuring Optimal Quality and Nutrition for Consumers

Challenge of Postharvest Losses in Existing Marketing

and Distribution

Most losses at the retail and consumer levels are incurred in the developed econo-
mies of the world (Parfitt et al. 2010) and therefore the discussion in this section
will pertain to issues in developed economies. Produce retailers have many options
that have been developed over the decades to help in reducing losses and shrinkage.
One of the most beneficial at the retail and consumer level has been packaging,
since it can provide physical protection for the product, help to control weight loss,
provide produce in portions suitable for consumers, and provide increased levels of
protection from microbial and/or chemical contamination during the handling of the
product on the shelf and to the consumers table (Anon 2011). However, there are
many societal and environmental issues that are yet unresolved with the lifecycle
for package use, such as ubiquity of recycling programs for used packaging (Anon
2011). Despite these issues, it has been estimated that use of packaging results in
significant reductions in terminal food waste (disposal to landfill) and as such has
a much lower environmental impact than does not using packaging and incurring
losses of fruit and vegetable mass that generates methane when it rots and thus con-
tributes to global warming (Gooch et al. 2010).
While icing and misting are in prevalent use in many retail produce displays
(Thompson and Crisosto 2002), concerns are emerging regarding the effects of free
water on the quality and safety of exposed produce at the consumer level, especially
if stored in a home refrigerator for any length of time (Rossman et al. 2012). Indeed,
misuse of misting or icing is prevalent for packaged fruits and vegetables and can
lead to problems, while not providing any benefit to such products. Recently fog-
ging systems have been developed for commercial use (e.g. Samarketing SL 2013)
and these may provide a superior humidity control for non-packaged fruits and
vegetables on display while avoiding accumulations of free water on the surface.
Lack of refrigeration is a significant issue, despite the general adoption of mod-
ern technologies in the developed economies of the world. Local distribution can
be subject to poor logistics practices, breakdowns and inconsistent refrigeration
(Gunders 2012). In the retail stores packaged whole and fresh-cut produce on dis-
play can face significant problems associated with overstocking (Gunders 2012)
which results in poor temperature control.
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 479

Waste at the consumer level exists for several potential reasons. First, many
times fruits and vegetables are packaged in formats that are too large (Gunders
2012) for smaller families, single persons or couples with no children at home. This
can lead to leftover produce that sits in the refrigerator after a first use. Secondly,
while many households purchase nutritious fruits and vegetables with good inten-
tions and the interest in their healthfulness, quite often in the rush of a busy life,
convenience food, takeout food and meals out lead to the non-use of the purchased
produce (Anon 2011; Gunders 2012; Parfitt et al. 2010). This behavior is thought to
be linked with the obesity crisis in the developed world economies since many of
the options have higher calories and are more energy dense than the fruits and veg-
etables that go uneaten (Drewnowski and Darmon 2005). Third, many consumers
do not have sufficient understanding of the correct storage conditions for fresh fruits
and vegetable or for managing their refrigerator to ensure proper storage conditions
(Anon 2011; Gunders 2012).

Research Needs

Many of the issues related to produce losses in marketing and distribution can be
resolved with improved education of produce handlers in the chain. Value chain
systems are beginning to emerge which may help to spur on improvements in cold
chain handling (Gooch et al. 2010). A value chain model involves ownership of
responsibilities and valuation of partners in the distribution chain with the desired
outcome that all partners benefit from the relationship and maximum returns ac-
crue for each member (Gooch et al. 2010). While there is some evidence that value
chain systems can result in improvements in marketing and distribution, there is a
need to document issues facing the current status quo and research to demonstrate
the benefits of a value chain approach to the enhancing retail quality and reducing
shrinkage of perishable fruits and vegetables.
While packaging has been an area of research for some time (Toivonen et  al.
2009), more research is required to adapt packaging to ever increasing demands
for new package formats, produce combinations and enhanced convenience to the
consumer and also to enhance flavor quality (Kader 2009). Packaging is essential
to continue in development of a convenience factor for the consumer and reduce
the losses occurring in the distribution chain. The convenience of a food for con-
sumption will continue to become more of an issue as cities grow and the pace of
lifestyle increases and hence the need to adapt fresh fruits and vegetables more and
more to a convenience format (Pollack 2011). The variety of products available to
the consumer in a single package is increasing in a highly competitive sector: new
product introductions are important and issues around product compatibility must
be resolved in the package system design (Fig. 13.3).
Technology has been developed to also cue customers to the edibility or ripeness
of fruit which do not normally show visual changes with ripening. A technology
to tell consumers the ripeness in green pear cultivars has provided retailers and
480 P. M. A. Toivonen et al.

Fig. 13.3   Potential for a

co-release technology sachet
to control compatibility prob-
lems when ethylene produc-
ing tomatoes are packaged
in salad mixes containing
ethylene sensitive vegetables
such as lettuce and carrot
shreds. Packages of salad mix
were obtained directly from
a fresh-cut processor and
stored at 5 °C for 4 weeks.
A full description of the
technology is provided by Lu
et al. (2008)

consumers with an on package incorporated color patch that will change color as
the fruit softens and develops sweetness for eating quality (http://www.ripesense.
com/). Technologies providing similar cues to retailers and consumers will help to
reduce waste by indicating which fruit are ready for immediate consumption and
which require time to ripen. Such technologies would be useful for fruits such as ki-
wifruit, avocados or melons. Similar technologies could be developed for packaged
fresh-cut product indicating remaining shelf life for the product, thus encouraging
timely product cycling on the retail shelves and consumption for the consumer.

Is it Possible to Reduce Losses and/or Enhance Retention

of Nutritional Value to the Consumer?

It is possible to both reduce losses and enhance retention of nutritional value for
the consumer? Nutritional value is linked to fruit and vegetable retaining appear-
ance and texture expectations of the consumers. Generally when produce is of good
visual and tactile quality the nutritional value is high (Gil et al. 2006). Therefore,
the challenge is to minimize the rate of perceptible deterioration in quality for the
product and the goal of nutrition retention should be achieved. Two factors probably
have most effect on both quality and nutrition retention; (1) temperature, and (2)
water loss. Nutritional components such as vitamin C may decline when significant
water loss occurs (Lee and Kader 2000). Temperature has a two-fold effect, it will
govern the rate of biochemical processes leading to over-ripening and also warmer
handling temperatures also lead to greater water loss. Modified atmospheres have
also been shown however to improve vitamin C retention (Lee and Kader 2000).
Losses of labile vitamins can be resolved through development of better packaging
systems and through better education of the consumer regarding home refrigeration
management.
13  Postharvest Care and the Treatment of Fruits and Vegetables 481

Future Outlook

The challenges in this new millennium are that consumption of fruits and vegetables
requires an understanding of societal values, lifestyles and environmental issues.
Complex and increasingly busy cities pose challenges to the distribution and retail
requirements for produce. Generally, portion-sized packages and fresh-cut product
are continuing to develop since urban consumers have preference for convenience
and may have limited skills or time for meal preparation (Pollack 2011). The carbon
footprint for packaging is relatively small when assessed relative to the alternative
of greater losses in unpackaged fruits and vegetables during distribution and mar-
keting (Gooch et al. 2010). A key for future reductions of losses in fruits and veg-
etables during distribution and marketing lies in successful implementation of new
models, likely involving value-chain systems (Anon 2011; Gooch et al. 2010) and
introduction of intelligent packaging with formats that will encourage ongoing im-
provements in quality, nutrition and flavor for the consumer (Toivonen et al. 2009).

Conclusions

Many of the challenges facing success in postharvest care of fruits and vegetables
do not depend on the development of new technologies, although there are still
some needs that were identified. Looking in a broader perspective, some of the chal-
lenges can be met by successful adoption or adaption of existing technologies to the
context of the country and economy in question. It appears however, that perhaps a
larger issue is that of the constraints that societal, business and consumer behaviors
place on the logistics and marketing of fruits and vegetables. Clearly, improvements
in delivering quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables to consumers will depend on
better co-operation and some rethinking of existing distribution systems and the
goals of sellers, buyers and marketers. Technology can make all things possible, but
it is willingness of the participants in the fruit and vegetable trade to take advantage
of the opportunities that will determine the outcome. Since the stakes are huge in
terms of current waste estimates and the challenges increase every year in terms of
world population growth, the urgency to improve the situation becomes also greater.

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