5 - Postharvest technologies to maintain the quality of tropical and subtropical fruits

Abstract

Tropical and subtropical fruits offer many diverse aromas, textures, tastes and shapes and include many different bioactive compounds. These attributes have increased consumer demand for produce of this type. The commercial success of tropical and subtropical fruits worldwide has favored the development of postharvest technologies and handling techniques for these fruits, especially in developed countries. Some adequate postharvest technologies have now been adopted in developing countries, where most tropical and subtropical fruits are produced and where postharvest technologies were virtually non-existent for many years in the past. For most of these products there have been advances in techniques for harvesting, packing, selection and grading, quality evaluation, transportation (by land, rail, sea and air) and control of storage conditions (temperature, humidity and atmospheric composition) and control of postharvest physiological disorder, insects and microbiological decay. There have also been improvements in methods of packaging, storage and processing. However, in some cases the best methods are not used and need to be made available to stakeholders, especially in developing countries. This chapter describes postharvest technologies and handling practices to maintain the quality of tropical and subtropical fruits.