Description
Scitus Academics Postharvest Management Of Horticultural Crops-Scitus by Jeltsyn Rocha
Postharvest priorities across the globe have evolved considerably over the past four decades, from being exclusively technical in their outlook, to being more responsive to consumer demand. Consumer-driven trends which have contributed to this shift include rising incomes in urban areas, changing dietary habits, reduced time for meal preparation and growing demand for safety, quality and convenience. Other factors such as globalization, urbanization and the need to achieve efficiencies and reduce costs have also contributed significantly to this shift in priorities and continue to re-shape and restructure the fresh produce sector. Post-harvest management comprises the various technologies and practices undergone by the farmer, farmers' groups or cooperatives and/or agribusiness companies, from the field to the plate, to handle the crop production immediately following harvest, up to its final destination, such as storing, transport, cleaning, sorting, processing and packing. The most important goals of post-harvest handling are keeping the product cool, to avoid moisture loss and slow down undesirable chemical changes, and avoiding physical damage such as bruising or cutting, to delay spoilage. Postharvest Management of Horticultural Crops presents several pre- and postharvest strategies that have been developed to modify these physiological activities, resulting in increased shelf life. The book also discusses the best technologies that positively influence quality attributes of the produce, including senescenal changes and, afterwards, the consumers’ decision to purchase the product in the marketplace. With contributions from experts with experience in both developed and developing regions, the book includes chapters covering thorough discussions on postharvest management strategies of horticultural commodities.
Obviously, postharvest management determines food quality and safety, competitiveness in the market, and the profits earned by producers. This would include linking operations and actors involved more closely and systematically, modernizing marketing infrastructure and technologies, capacity building of individual actors, and strengthening the policy/institutional settings for better marketing. The concerted efforts of all, including the private and public, sectors are required to alleviate these constraints.