Handling and Processing of Organic Fruits and Vegetables in Developing Countries

This report was prepared by Julian Heyes and Bruce Bycroft, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Inc (http://www.crop.cri.nz), from an original document prepared by Anne le Moigne.

© FAO, 2002
Agro-Industries and Post-Harvest Management Service (AGSI).


Copyright

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

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Table of Contents

Preface

1 Introduction

1.2 World Trade
1.3 Consumer Preferences

2 Post-production Operations

2.1 Harvesting
2.2 Curing
2.3 Packing House Operations
2.4 Packing and Packaging materials
    2.4.1 Cardboard and paper
    2.4.2 Plastic
    2.4.3 Glass
    2.4.4 Metal
    2.4.5 Conclusion
2.5 Cooling System
    2.5.1 Air-cooling
    2.5.2 Forced-air-cooling
    2.5.3 Hydro-cooling
    2.5.4 Vacuum-cooling
2.6 Storage of fruits and vegetables
2.7 Transportation System
2.8 Processing
    2.8.1 Freezing
    2.8.2 Drying
        2.8.2.1 Water Content
        2.8.2.2 Additives and Processing Aids
        2.8.2.3 Blanching
        2.8.2.4 Rapid Drying
        2.8.2.5 Water/air Tight Packaging
        2.8.2.6 Pasteurisation After Packaging
        2.8.2.7 Supplementary Techniques for Specific Fruits
    2.8.3 Heat Conservation
        2.8.3.1 Juice or Oil Extraction
        2.8.3.2 Canning
        2.8.3.3 Conservation with Sugar, e.g. Jams and Purées
   2.8.4 Conservation by Fermentation
        2.8.4.1 Other Fermentation
2.9 Others
     2.9.1 Legislation Applying to Organic Products
        2.9.1.1 Storage and Processing of Organic Agricultural Products
        2.9.1.2 Labelling

3 Pest Control and Decay

3.1 Pest Control

4 Economic and Social Considerations

4.1 Major Problems

5 References

5.1 Acknowledgements

6 Annex

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