Chapters authored
Indigenous and Improved Postharvest Handling Methods and Processing of Fruits
After harvesting, fresh fruit’s quality cannot be improved but it can be maintained. Fruits should be harvested at the appropriate maturity stage and size. Harvesting of fruits at improper maturity stage reduces shelf-life. Time of harvest, method of harvest, tools used in harvesting also contribute to the wholesomeness of harvested fruits. Fruits are living organisms that continue their living processes after harvest; therefore, their handling directly affects freshness as well as optimum flavor. Maintaining cool temperatures, appropriate air combination to maintain the quality of fruits, producers, handlers, and retailers are to ensure that fruits going for processing, marketing, or into storage are at the best quality state. Indigenous handling refers to the native, age-long, cultural system of postharvest handling of horticultural crops. Postharvest handling comprises interconnected activities from harvest to sorting, grading, preservation, transportation, packaging, processing, marketing, and decision by the consumer to accept or reject the food. Improvement is the enhancement made on the traditional postharvest handling methods to reduce losses of agricultural produce by at least 5%. Various means have been developed over time to handle and preserve food and particularly fruits over ages of technology advancement from the Stone Age.
Part of the book: Fruit Industry
Postharvest Handling Methods, Processes and Practices for Pepper
Pepper belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is cultivated for its pungency, flavor, color, taste, export potential, capsaicin and oleoresin content. It is classified as sweet or hot pepper, depending on the capsaicin content of the fruit. World pepper production was around 3.5 million tons between 2009 and 2019, with 35% from Vietnam as the largest producer and exporter, followed by India and Indonesia. Vietnam pepper production increased progressively by 12.4% in 2014. The country was the major producer, followed by Brazil, Indonesia and India. To enhance adequate supply of pepper fruits and stabilize its soaring price, there must be efficient postharvest handling, processing and preservation methods compatible with the socio-economic and cultural practices of the producer. Data showed that improper postharvest handling of pepper results in huge postharvest losses. With this, handling must be a crucial part of an integrated systematic approach to maintaining the final product’s quality.
Part of the book: Capsicum