ISHS Acta Horticulturae 821: International Symposium on Tomato in the Tropics
INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF VEGETABLES IN FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT |
| Author: | S. Huyskens-Keil |
| Keywords: | quality definition, food quality evaluation, food trends, quality management system, food safety |
| Abstract:
This paper presents an overview of the drastic changes in understanding of the quality of fruits and vegetables during the past years. The national and international agricultural reformation, aggravation of competition and surplus production of many horticultural crops as well as the rising awareness of environmental, nutritional and health concerns of the society have led to an alteration process in the view of quality being indicated by alterations of the purchasing behaviour of consumers increasingly demanding only highest quality standard products. Recently, various attempts are ongoing to define quality more comprehensively, in which the step from a view of product-oriented quality over process-oriented quality to consumer-oriented quality within the entire food supply chain has been conducted. However, new laws and orders (e.g. residue law, HACCP-concept, traceability), quality management systems (ISO 9001 ff.) as well as new trends (e.g. functional food, gene-food) have to be implemented into these new approaches. With a new and comprehensive understanding of the quality dynamics it will be possible to face increasing alterations in consumer requirements as well as improve the competitiveness on the European and international trade markets. | |
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