Small-Scale Postharvest Handling Practices: A Manual for Horticultural Crops (4th Edition)

Post-harvest Horticulture Series No. 8E July 2002, Slightly Revised in November 2003

 

Authors

Lisa Kitinoja and Adel A. Kader

 

University Logo

University of California , Davis
Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center



Copyright

© 2004 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS, CALIFORNIA

The copyright of this publication is vested in the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS, CALIFORNIA. Applications for permissions to reproduce this publication, in whole or in part, by any method or process, should be addressed, with a statement of purpose and extend of the reproduction desired, to UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS, CALIFORNIA.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


INTRODUCTION THE MANUAL

Principal causes of postharvest losses and poor quality

Relative perishability and storage life of fresh produce

Resources for quality assurance and export marketing


CHAPTER 1: HARVESTING AND PREPARATION FOR MARKET

Maturity standards

Using a refractometer

Using a firmness tester

Harvesting practices

Harvesting containers

Harvesting tools

Field packing

Transport to the packinghouse


CHAPTER 2: CURING ROOT, TUBER AND BULB CROPS

Field curing

Curing with heated air

Bulk systems for curing onions

Emergency curing


CHAPTER 3: PACKINGHOUSE OPERATIONS

Narrow pallet system

General operations

Packinghouse layout

Dumping

Conveyor equipment

Washing

Waxing

Sorting

Sizing

Simple packing line


CHAPTER 4: PACKING AND PACKAGING MATERIALS

Packing practices

Packing containers

Choosing a container

Packaging practices

Labeling

Modularization of containers

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

Unit loads


CHAPTER 5: DECAY AND INSECT CONTROL

Chemical controls

Vase life of cut flowers

Cold treatments

Controlled/modified atmosphere treatments

Heat treatments

Biological control and plant growth regulators


CHAPTER 6: TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY CONTROL

Room cooling

Forced-air cooling

Hydro-cooling

Evaporative cooling

Night air ventilation

Chilling injury

Use of ice

Alternative methods of cooling

Increasing relative humidity

Maintaining the cold chain for perishables


CHAPTER 7: STORAGE OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Recommended storage temperatures

Compatibility groups for storage

Susceptibility to freezing injury

Storage practices

Storage structures

Storage of dried and bulb crops

Storage of root and tuber crops

Storage of potatoes

Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage


CHAPTER 8: TRANSPORTATION OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Open vehicles

USDA Portacooler

Refrigerated trailers

Stacking patterns/hand-stacked

Stacking patterns/pallet and slip sheet loads

Stacking strength

Bracing the load

Air transport


CHAPTER 9: HANDLING AT DESTINATION

Unloading

Temporary storage temperatures

Sorting/repacking

Ripening

Display


CHAPTER 10: PROCESSING OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Processing equipment

Preparation for processing

Solar drying

Forced-air dehydrators

Oil-burning dehydrators

Electric dehydrators

Oven drying

Drying flowers

Canning

Juicing

Other methods of processing


CHAPTER 11: FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES

Food Safety on the Farm

Minimizing pathogen contamination during harvest

Minimizing pathogen contamination during Postharvest Handling

Sanitizing field containers, tools and packinghouse surfaces

Traceback

For further information


GENERAL REFERENCES


APPENDIX A: Sources of additional information on the Internet