ISHS Acta Horticulturae 218: XII African Symposium on Horticultural Crops
HARVESTING, POST-HARVEST HANDLING AND STORAGE FOR BETTER QUALITY HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE |
| Author: | F. J. Proctor |
| Abstract:
Post-harvest practices are critical to successful horticultural produce marketing. The principles involved in the post-harvest system for horticultural produce are essentially the same regardless of the product, the region of production or the market place. However, the practice appropriate to a specific situation is influenced by a number of factors both technical, including stage of harvest, inherent product characteristics, prevailing ambient environment, transport and storage requirements and market demands, and non-technical, including organization of production and marketing, institutional support, manpower capability and infrastructure. To maintain and upgrade product quality an integrated approach to the post-harvest system is required where each integral part is appropriate to the system as a whole. This paper outlines the principles involved, the technical and non-technical factors influencing the maintenance of produce quality, and highlights recent developments in post harvest technology of relevance to Africa. | |
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