Postharvest practices

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Postharvest practices icon

After harvest, fruits and vegetables need to be handled with care to maintain freshness, nutrient content, taste and quality. Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable, and so poor after harvest handling can result in losses. The field of postharvest practices addresses issues of handling, transportation and temperature control for crops after harvest. Good postharvest handlng is critical to reducing postharvest losses of fresh produce, to maintain quality, preserve nutrient content, and earn higher prices at market.

Horticulture Innovation Lab researchers test the efficacy of postharvest technologies and build capacity among local leaders in postharvest practices. Below are fact sheets, videos, manuals, and other training materials for improving postharvest practices with horticultural crops.

Developing a postharvest alternative to fungicide in Sri Lanka

Led by Robert Paull,

This project brings together two parallel research programs for collaboration — one in Sri Lanka using natural coating and herbal extracts and another in Hawaii to use natural epiphytic microo

Sri Lanka

Developing a concentrated solar dryer in Tanzania

Led by Diane Barrett,

Women carry out most production of horticultural crops in Tanzania and other developing countries. Harvest periods are short but less than 1% of the crop is processed for off-season consumption.

Tanzania