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Postharvest Technology:Introduction to systems analysis

Steven A. SargentProfessor and Extension Postharvest Physiologist

Horticultural Sciences Department

University of Florida

Gainesville

Why Study Postharvest Quality?

World hunger: 24,000 people die each day– Mostly children = 100 Boeing 747 planes

crashing each day

Extent of food losses:– Grains (non-perishable): rice – 10 to 37%

– Fresh Produce (perishable):US – average 12%; 23% through consumer level

World – 25 to 75%

(Sources: Grolleaud, undated; Kader 2005)

Postharvest Losses of Foods of Plant Origin (A. Kader)

Quantitative

Qualitative

– Loss of acceptability by consumers

– Loss of caloric and nutritive value

– Loss of edibility

Postharvest Losses of Foods of Plant Origin (A. Kader)

33% of Marketed Produce worldwide

Locations Range Mean Range Mean

From production toretail sites 2-23 12 5-50 25

At retail, foodservice,and consumer sites 5-30 20 2-20 10

Cumulative total 7-53 32 7-70 32

Developed Developingcountries countries

Estimated Postharvest Losses (%) of Fresh Produce (A. Kader)

From: Roberta Cook, cited by Kader

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Postharvest losses are cumulative

Worker removing unsalable produce at a supermarket:

6 to 9% loss (“shrink”)

The Goal of Postharvest Technology:

Minimize Losses in Postharvest Quality by Retarding Senescence and Decay

Major reasons to discard the selected fruits and vegetables by the produce department (A. Kader)

Reason (%)Expired date 24.9Bruises, smashed fruit/vegetables 15.1Juice exudation, leaky fruit 14.9Browning, discoloration 13.7Decay 8.8Overripe 5.9Cuts, punctures or cracks 4.1Pitting, chilling injury 2.5Water-soaking of the tissues (transparent appearance) 2.3Excessive softness 2.2Shriveling, wilting, saggy, flaccid 2.2Dryness of steams, leaves, crown 1.1Loss of gloss, dull color 0.9Defective package 0.7Slimy leaves 0.6Berry easily detached from stems (grape) 0.1

NUNES, M.C.N., J.P. Emond, M. Rauth, S. Dea, and K.V. Chau. 2009. Environmental conditions encountered during typical consumer retail display affect fruit and vegetable quality and waste. Postharv. Biol. Technol. 51:232-241.

Fresh Produce Reaches Global

Markets

Florida is the major U.S. producer of fresh fruitsand vegetables during the winter months.

Florida Census of Agriculture, 2012

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Recent Trends In U.S. Produce Marketing

Produce department is the showcase

Greater variety

Highest profits

>$80 billion in total sales

New Local Growth MarketsConsumers around the nation are increasingly

looking for locally grown produce

Perceived as fresher

Supports local growers and businesses– Farmers markets

– Restaurants

– Supermarkets

State promotional campaigns help Florida growers.

Specialty Crops

Greater variety...what is this???

Dragon fruit (pitaya)

Fresh baby corn for export (Thailand to Japan)

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Convenience- microwavable potatoes

Fresh-cut fruits & vegetables-Convenience: cross-merchandising Value-added products

Gift package – in China Fresh-cut fruits & vegetables- Convenience

- >$10 billion

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-Food safety & security:“Triple-washed”

Trends in Foodborne Illness in the U.S., 1996-2010 (www.cdc.gov)

• Unsafe foods cause an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States.

• Although people from all walks of life can develop foodborne illness, those who are most at risk include the elderly,

young children, pregnant

women and their fetuses,

and the immuno-

compromised.

Causes of Illness from food (2003-2008)

Figure 1. Relative rates of laboratory-confirmed infections with Campylobacter, E. coli O157, Listeria, Salmonella, and Vibrio, compared with 1996--1998 rates, by year --- Foodborne Diseases

Active Surveillance Network, United States, 1996-2010

Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado: 2011

Multi-state outbreak

147 illnesses

33 deaths

Preventable

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Food Safety Information

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:– www.cdc.gov

Food & Drug Administration: Food Safety:– www.fda.gov

So... how do we minimize

postharvest losses??

Quality maintenance requires diligence at all steps during

handling

Three primary concerns:

• Minimize mechanical injury during harvest & handling

• Cool rapidly soon after harvest

• Minimize risk for cross-contamination with human pathogens

One way to analyze postharvest operations is

Systems Analysis

Unloading apples in Brazil

Systems Analysis

Four steps are involved:1. Identify the overall system

– Beginning to end

2. Identify and 3. Analyze the individual components and inter-relationships

– e.g., harvest, transport, pack, cool

4. Synthesize the components into a workable plan

1. Define the system(overall operation)

Component 1

Component2

Component3

Overall Operation

Identify the components

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2. For each component,define the subcomponents

Subcomp1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 1

What makes up each subcomponent?

For example, one componentmight be defined as:

Manualvs.

Machine?

Field Packvs.

P-house?

ContainerType?

Harvest

Each subcomponent is also defined. Ask: What, where, why, how?

HARVEST (1)Field Pack

Transport PACKINGHOUSE (2)

Grading & Packing Operations

Palletizing

Cooling

SHIPPING (3)

In this example, there are 3 componentscontaining several subcomponents.

Before analyzing postharvest operations (Step 3)...

• Determine requirements for the crop– Storage temperature and relative humidity

– Appropriate cooling method(s)

– Required postharvest life (to reach market)

– Appropriate packing/shipping containers

3. Analyze the components

Subcomp1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 1

Subcomp1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 2

Subcomp1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 3

How are the components and subcomponents inter-related?

4. Synthesize the system

Subcomp 1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 1

Subcomp 1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 2

Subcomp 1

Subcomp2

Subcomp3

Component 3

What are the strengthsand weaknesses of each?

What improvements could be made?

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In Summary...Postharvest losses are significant, but they can be significantly reduced

Systems Analysis is a proven method that can be employed to understand complex harvest and postharvest operations

Once understood, an action plan can be developed to change and/or modify the current system

Class of ‘08

In Summary...• Postharvest losses are significant, but they

can be significantly reduced

• Systems Analysis is a proven method that can be employed to understand complex harvest and postharvest operations

• Once understood, an action plan can be developed to change and/or modify the current system