POSTHARVEST HORTICULTURE SERIES NO. 8 - March, 1995
Lisa Kitinoja and Adel A. Kader
DEPARTMENT OF POMOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - DAVIS, CALIFORNIA 95616
© 1995 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.
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Postharvest handling steps for a typical commodity
Principal causes of postharvest losses and poor quality
Resources for quality assurance and export marketing
Section 1: Harvesting and preparation for market
Maturity standards
Harvesting practices
Harvesting containers
Harvesting tools
Field packing
Transport to the packinghouse
Section 2: Curing root, tuber and bulb crops
Field curing
Curing with heated air
Bulk systems for curing onions
Emergency curing
Section 3: Packinghouse operations
General operations
Dumping
Washing
Waxing
Sorting
Sizing
Fruit packing line
Section 4: Packing and packaging materials
Packing practices
Packing containers
Packaging practices
Labeling
Modularization of containers
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)
Unit loads
Section 5: Decay and insect control
Chemical controls
Controlled/modified atmosphere treatments
Heat treatments
Section 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
Section 7: Storage of horticultural crops
Recommended storage temperatures
Compatibility groups for storage of fruits, vegetables and floral crops
Storage practices
Storage structures
Dried and bulb crops
Root and tuber crops
Potatoes
Controlled atmosphere (C.A.) storage
Relative perishability and storage life of fresh horticultural crops
Section 8: Transportation of horticultural crops
Open vehicles
Refrigerated trailers
Stacking patterns/handstacked
Stacking patterns/pallet and slip sheet loads
Bracing the load
Section 9: Handling at destination
Unloading
Storage temperatures
Sorting/repacking
Ripening
Display
Section 10: Processing of horticultural crops
Processing equipment
Preparation for processing
Solar drying
Forced-air dehydrators
Oil-burning dehydrators
Electric dehydrators
Oven drying
Drying flowers
Extraction of essential oils from aromatic plants
Canning
Juicing
Other methods of processing
Appendix B: Addresses, telephone and fax numbers of manufacturers and suppliers