Fresh Horticultural Commodities Research Articles

The Impact of Collaborative Networks on Supply Chain Performance: A Case Study of Fresh Vegetable Commodities in Indonesia

A collaborative performance system focuses on sustainable performance management in a sustainable supply chain. This system was employed to determine the relationship between the farmer group association (Gapoktan) of Lembang Agri (LA) that produce fresh vegetables and supermarkets as purchasing partners to improve performance. This study is crucial due to the shift in farmers’ roles from merely producers to entrepreneurs. This study utilized the dependency theory to explore the impact of collaborative networks on information and resource sharing and supply chain performance, as well as determine the appropriate orientation for collaborative supply chain indicators. The study surveyed 80 respondents representing different types of partnership structures from a parallel or supplier-buyer supply chain structure perspective. Moreover, the model developed on collaborative networks, information sharing, resource sharing and supply chain performance was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results unveiled a positive and significant indirect relationship between collaborative networks and supply chain performance. The implication could be applied to identify the developing theories concerning collaborative network relationships and information and resource sharing related to supply chain performance on their networks, especially in producing fresh horticultural commodities. This study is essential to enrich the limited research in this industry.

Effects of Freezing Time on Degradation of Durian (Durio Zibethinus Murr.) Fruit's Attributes During the Frozen Storage.

Freeze-process has been applied in preserving many fresh horticultural commodities addressed to the medium-distancing distribution. In this study, effect of freezing process and storage time on durian's attributes degradation was observed. 100 durian fruits were treated with two-level combinations of freezing process. The first level involves the freezing of the said fruit at -15°C for two different freezing times, that is 10 min (treatment A) and 20 min (treatment B). Followed by frozen-storage for -10°C for 0, 10, 20 and 30 days. At different interval time, the frozen samples were thawed at 4°C for 24h. Then, physical, chemical, and sensory parameters were periodically assessed. The result showed that treatment B provide a significantly better output than treatment A. This is proven through a lower weight loss, brighter and lighter yellow of the pulp, softer pulp, lower value of moisture content on the pulp, and a remained stable of succinate acid's profile. Furthermore, based on the preference evaluation test, the fruits were accepted by respondents.

A low‐cost storage for horticulture commodities for enhancing farmer's income: An overview on evaporative cooling

AbstractIndia is one of the leading countries in the production of horticultural produces. Still, the lack of scientific knowledge, infrastructure, and nonexistence of proper storage facilities forces the farmers to sell their produce in the nearby market immediately after harvest. Although refrigeration and cold storage facilities are developing now to store the horticultural produce, they are not only energy‐intensive but also require huge investment. The majority of farmers cannot afford these facilities even on a rental basis for their harvest. The metabolism of fresh horticultural commodities continues even after the harvest and the rate of deterioration rises because their maturation, senescence, and unfavorable atmospheric factors predominate, especially in tropical countries. A low‐cost, energy‐efficient, environmentally benign and made from the locally available material evaporative cooling chamber (ECC) may resolve some of these issues of on‐farm storage. It is an efficient and cost‐effective way to reduce the temperature and increase relative humidity inside the chamber. A lot of evaporative cooling structures were developed, but still, this simple technology did not make a dent in the production catchment rural areas. In this article, an attempt is made to review the basic principle, methods, factors that influence storage conditions of perishables, design consideration of different evaporative cooling systems, major limitations, challenges, and constraints of its low adoption. The recent developments for modifications and improvement in existing ECCs using the latest technological interventions with the help of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things and their cost analysis are also highlighted.Practical ApplicationsAdoption of a low‐cost and environmentally friendly evaporative cooling system for on‐farm storage made from locally available materials will reduce postharvest losses and improve the economic status of farmers.

Application of intermittent warming to enhance postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum)

Intermittent warming (IW) cycles slow down the physiology of fresh horticultural commodities, thereby extending their storage life. We investigated the effects of IW on physiological disorders, physicochemical, sensory parameters and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of pomegranate (Punica granatum; cv. Wonderful) fruit during a 3-month cold storage period. Pomegranate fruit batches were subjected to IW cycles of 3d at 5°C, followed by 1 d at 20°C (IW 3d) and 6 d at 5°C, followed by 1 d at 20°C (IW 6d). During cold storage at 5°C, fruit samples were transferred to shelf-life conditions at 20°C for 4 d before analysis was performed monthly. Continuous fruit mass loss was observed across all treatments during storage but was highest (p < 0.05) for untreated samples at the end of this study. Fruit decay was minimized by 15% and 16% for IW 3d and IW 6d, respectively, compared to 42% for the control. In contrast, a higher incidence of chilling injury was observed in the treated fruits than in control. Therefore, IW 3 d at 5°C is recommended for decay reduction in pomegranate fruit (cv. Wonderful) and shelf-life extension for up to 3 months of storage.

Smart packaging : Modern way for reducing post-harvest losses of horticultural produce

Most fresh horticultural commodities are highly perishable and thus require proper care and handling during and after harvesting. Hence, packaging (pre-packaging, primary, secondary and tertiary) becomes an essential operation in prolonging the shelf life of the processed or fresh horticultural produce. Packaging provides containment and protection to the product and convenience and communication about the inside product to the end consumer. Consumer requirements and demands and world wide shifting patterns such as expectation of life and companies putting money into the production and delivery of food are driving innovation in food and packaging. Smart packaging is a novel and fascinating technological area with a lot of positive feedback from today’s consumers. The two primary forms of smart packaging are active and intelligent packaging. Active packaging systems include active compounds put into sachets or pads and then placed in the package, as well as placed directly in the package or on the packaging material. Intelligent packaging comprises signs that describe the product’s safety and quality, history, and the environment surrounding the container. Packaging in the traditional sense functions as a passive barrier, delaying the detrimental impact of environmental factors on the food product. These new innovative packaging systems, on the other hand, allow the package to interact with the environment and food, as well as play a vital part in the preservation of horticultural commodities. Despite substantial study into the innovative packaging technologies, several of these innovations have yet to be successfully deployed in commercial horticultural produce packaging systems. Comprehensive awareness of their potential in horticulture product packaging applications will help with effective development and broad commercial introduction.

Preparation of novel nano–based films impregnated by potassium permanganate as ethylene scavengers: An optimization study

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is a dominant ethylene (C2H4)-scavenger extensively used in fresh horticultural commodities, mainly in climacteric fruit, to prolong their shelf life. This material has been traditionally utilized as a C2H4-permeable sachet for inclusion into packages of produces. New formulation strategies are required in polymeric materials to develop nanocomposites with ethylene scavenging potential, as well as good barrier and mechanical properties. This work involved preparation and optimization of novel interesting nanocomposites based on polyolefin elastomer (POE) comprising impregnated nanoparticles (nanosilica (NS) and nanoclay (NC)) with KMnO4 via the response surface methodology (RSM). Regression models were developed for water vapor permeability (WVP), ethylene absorbency (EA), and mechanical properties as a function of concentrations of independent variables (POE-g-MAH (0–3%), NS (0–1.5%), NC (0–2%)). According to Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results, both NS and NC were fully dispersed in the POE matrix. The prepared nanocomposites demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, larger EA, and lower WVP than neat POE film did. Ethylene absorption capacity increased at higher concentrations of impregnated nanoparticles due to their higher KMnO4 concentration. In addition, the optimized nanocomposite films were shown to extend the shelf life of bananas up to 15 days at ambient conditions.

Potassium Permanganate-Based Ethylene Scavengers for Fresh Horticultural Produce as an Active Packaging

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is a powerful ethylene (C2H4)-scavenging agent widely used in fresh horticultural commodities to delay the postharvest maturation. According to databases, it has been used for almost 50 years in food-packaging systems, and over 70 studies have evaluated its effects on fresh produce quality, mainly on climacteric fruit. However, the use of KMnO4-based technology remains limited at a commercial scale, since there are still lots of doubts on its potential as an effective postharvest tool, as well as in relation with health, environmental and safety concerns. Depending on the commodity, and even the variety, these scavengers may have different effects, but overall, they can delay ripening/senescence-related processes such as chlorophyll degradation/colour changes, weight and firmness losses, disorders and diseases, acidity and sugar changes. This review comprises an updated overview of the current knowledge regarding the use of KMnO4 as C2H4-scavenging agent, providing a concise appraisal on KMnO4-based C2H4 removal application and its effect on the quality of fresh produce. KMnO4 is commonly supported onto microporous mineral particles, which are placed into small sachets to avoid direct food contact within packages. Generally, KMnO4-based C2H4 scavengers are jointly used with modified atmosphere packaging. Hence, KMnO4-based C2H4-scavenging systems, as an active food-packaging technology, seem to be a relevant option to preserve the quality and safety of fresh horticultural produce. Nevertheless, although there are many KMnO4-based products available in the market, which are presently reviewed, more research is required in order to obtain an optimal C2H4-scavenger performance.

Efficacy of photocatalysis and photolysis systems for the removal of ethylene under different storage conditions

Most fresh horticultural commodities are highly perishable and ethylene often plays an important role in their ripening and senescence process. Reduction of ethylene concentrations around these commodities may lead to the slowing down of metabolic processes, which could potentially extend their storage or shelf life. The objective of this work was to investigate photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) and vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV) photolysis for ethylene removal in fruit storage. The efficacy of both techniques for ethylene removal was analyzed under different storage conditions (initial ethylene concentration, oxygen, relative humidity and temperature). Ethylene removal in VUV photolysis was much faster than PCO with the reaction mechanism followed by Langmuir-Hinshelwood and first-order equations, respectively. Higher O2 concentration in the reactor favored both ethylene removal processes. However, high relative humidity impeded PCO and enhanced VUV photolysis efficacy of ethylene oxidation. Lowering the temperature from 21 °C to 1 °C showed no consistent trend of temperature effects on ethylene removal in the PCO process, whereas in VUV photolysis, reducing the temperature decreased ethylene removal significantly (p ≤ 0.05). Ethylene removal in a gas stream with a single pass through VUV photolysis reactor was 84.8% whereas it was only 14.9% in PCO reactor. Apple storage revealed that the ethylene concentration increased to 70 μL L−1 in 8 days at 1 °C. This concentration was brought down to 24 and 2.6 μL L−1 in storage chambers connected to PCO and VUV reactors, respectively. Further research efforts are needed to improve the performance of the reactors for the complete removal of ethylene in postharvest storage of fresh produce.

Effect of Cellophane and Chitosan Coatings on Qualitative and Biochemical Characteristics of Sweet Pepper, Cultivar “California wonder” during Storage

Introduction Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from Solanaceae family is one of the most important vegetables which are fruit pods on the capsicum plant grown for their sweet fruits and delicate peppery flavor they extend to the recipes. Sweet pepper contains an impressive list of plant nutrients that found to have disease preventing and health promoting properties. Unlike in other fellow chili peppers, it has very less calories and fats. 100 g provides just 31 calories. Because of their versatility, low calories, intense flavor and high concentration of vitamins, sweet peppers are a great snack raw and an easy addition to many different recipes. In recent years extending shelf-life of this perishable vegetable has been accomplished (Banaras et al., 2005). The losses in vegetable quality and quantity between harvest and consumption affect the crop productivity. It is estimated that the magnitude of the postharvest losses of fresh horticultural crops is from 5 to 25% in developed countries and of 20 to 50% in developing countries. Fresh peppers are often eaten raw and supplied pre-cut to manufacturers as ready-to-use ingredients. However, the main problems limiting their shelf life occur by shriveling, decay development on the cut surface, as well as degreening of the vegetable among different degraded quality characteristics (Sakaldas and Kaynas, 2010). Those problems are correlated to an undesirable loss of water during metabolism or diffusion through the skin and respiration. Temperature management is the most effective tool for extending the shelf life of fresh horticultural commodities. Nowadays, to reduce high losses and keeping product’s quality, in addition to lowering temperature, coating and packing must be noticed. Therefore, in this study, dipping in chitosan solution and coatings by edible Chitosan was assayed to improve quality of sweet peppers storability during cold storage. Material and Methods Plant material and sample preparation: Green peppers obtained from a Research farm, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran were used in the present study. The fruits were sanitized with hyperchlorinated water (1 mL/L) and rinsed with tap water. Peppers were divided in random into different group for chitosan treatments. Treatments and storage condition: The green peppers were dipped for 2 min into a solution either 0% (control) or 1% (w/v) chitosan (Chitosan, 80-95% deacetylation degree, medium molecular weight). The coating solution was prepared by dispersing 0 and 10 g of chitosan powder into 1L of distilled water containing 1% (v/v) glacial acetic acid (Kyu Kyu Win et al., 2007) and final pH of the solution adjusted to pH 5.0. After being air dried for 2 hrs. at room Temperature, ten similar sizes fruits were placed in each plastic crate, tightly closed by cellophane films and stored at 10°C, 85-90% relative humidity to be later assessed for further analyses intended for 14 and 28 days. The control samples of ten untreated fruits per crate were kept unsealed under similar environmental conditions of temperature and relative humidity separately. The current study carried out as a factorial assay on the basis of a RCBD with three replications during 2013-2014 at Ilam University. The main factor was included of four treatments (control, Chitosan coating, Cellophane sealing and Chitosan coating + Cellophane sealing) and the sub factor was included of storage period duration (14 and 28 days). Data were subjected to ANOVA using SAS software version 9.2. Verification of significant differences was done using Duncan's Test at 5% probability level. Results and discussions Results showed that fruits quality declines with long storage, but treatments with Cellophane and Chitosan decreased weight loss and kept firmness, TSS, titratable acidity, sugar/acid ratio, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, total phenol, and catalase and peroxidase enzymes better than control. Furthermore, for most of the traits no significant difference was observed between treatments, although cellophane coating recorded more fungal infection and lower marketability. Shelf life enhancement by Chitosan has been already reported on carrot, orange and Japanese Medlar (Rashidi et al., 2009, Ahmad et al., 1989 & Ding et al., 2002) through its antimicrobial activity (Xing et al., 2011) and suppressing respiration by blocking stomata. It has been reported that both edible and nonedible coverage (such as chitosan and cellophane) of fruits can provide a modified atmosphere surround them which results in decreasing the rate of their maturity and senesces. Taking overall quality into consideration, the best treatment was joint application of cellophane and chitosan. That treatment appears to be an effective method for improving the postharvest quality of peppers which could more effectively preserved quality and biochemical characteristics. These fruits remained hydrated, green and had good visual appearance after storage. The low rate of respiration of these fruits may also account for the retention of pepper quality.

Quality and safety of fresh horticultural commodities: Recent advances and future perspectives

Abstract Fresh fruit and vegetables are a major source of biologically active compounds essential for human wellbeing. They are, however, perishable living products that require coordinated actions by growers, storage operators, processors, and retailers to maintain their quality and reduce food loss and waste. Recent advances in shelf life extension have been achieved by the combination of treatments including suitable temperature, humidity, and gas composition that maintain their quality and safety. Fresh produce attributes such as appearance, texture, flavour and nutritional value have been traditional quality criteria, but increasingly safety and traceability are important for all the role players along the supply chain from the farm to consumer. Non-destructive techniques for analysing the quality of fresh produce are valuable tools applicable along the supply chain. Advances in optical methods were touched in this perspective article pointing to new methods to inform the user. Quality deterioration and microbial contamination leading to spoilage and postharvest losses can occur at any of the supply chain stages. Therefore, postharvest treatments are essential to minimise quality loss, microbial spoilage and reduce the risk of pathogen contamination. Various postharvest physical, chemical and gaseous treatments can be applied to maintain fresh-like quality without compromising the sensory and nutritional aspects. The consequences of these techniques on quality and safety of fresh horticultural commodities are highlighted in this paper. Future research should aim at improving organoleptic quality and meeting safety standards of fresh produce at all steps of the supply chain.

Effect of Irradiation on Queen Survivorship and Reproduction in the Invasive Fire AntSolenopsis invicta(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and a Proposed Phytosanitary Irradiation Treatment for Ants

We studied radiation tolerance in queens of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to identify a dose that prevents reproduction. Virgin or fertile queens were collected from Santa Fe and Formosa provinces in Argentina and reared in the laboratory in microcolonies. Virgin queens were irradiated at 0 (control), 70, 90, 120, or 150 Gy, and fertile queens were irradiated at 0, 60, 125, and 190 Gy, and then followed for 11 wk in the microcolonies to evaluate survival and reproduction. Virgin queens lay trophic eggs that do not hatch, whereas fertile queens lay eggs that hatch and develop into brood. In general, queen oviposition and survival decreased with increasing irradiation dose. For virgin queens, no eggs were laid by irradiated queens after the third week, whereas the control queens continued laying eggs throughout the 11-wk experiment. For fertile queens, only one larva and no pupae was observed in the 60 Gy treatment and no larvae or pupae were observed in the 125 and 190 Gy treatments, whereas a total of 431 larvae and 83 pupae were produced by untreated control queens during 11 wks. Survivorship of virgin and fertile queens was similarly reduced by irradiation treatment. These results with S. invicta are consistent with previous findings for three other invasive ants, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), Pheidole megacephala (F.), and Linephithema humile (Mayr), that are hitchhiker pests on fresh horticultural commodities. A radiation dose of 150 Gy is proposed as a phytosanitary treatment to prevent reproduction in ants.

Generic Radiation Quarantine Treatments: The Next Steps

In 2006, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a landmark rule providing generic radiation quarantine treatments. The rule approved radiation doses of 150 Gy for any tephritid fruit fly and 400 Gy for all other insects except the pupa and adult stages of Lepidoptera. The generic radiation treatments apply to all fresh horticultural commodities. Therefore, if a pest risk assessment demonstrates that no pupae or adult Lepidoptera are associated with a commodity, export approval can be forthcoming with no further research. Generic treatments are the culmination of decades of research but not an end point. Future research on quarantine and phytosanitary uses of radiation should focus on 1) development of specific doses for quarantine Lepidoptera not covered by the generic treatments, 2) reduction of dose levels for specific pests and commodities to shorten treatment time and minimize any deleterious effects of radiation treatment on commodity quality, 3) development of generic doses below 400 Gy for important groups of quarantine arthropods other than fruit flies, and 4) development of information on commodity tolerance and development of value-added irradiated fresh products that use generic radiation treatments. Generic treatments will facilitate safe trade between countries that have approved phytosanitary uses of radiation for fresh agricultural commodities.

Optimal Low-pressure Conditions for Long-term Storage of Fresh Commodities Kill Caribbean Fruit Fly Eggs and Larvae

U.S. regulations prevent importation of fresh horticultural commodities that have not received an approved quarantine treatment assuring 99.999% (Probit 9) mortality of potentially invasive insect pests. Because imported mangoes (Mangifera indica) are likely to be infested by the caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa) and other tropical fruit flies in the Americas, such as the mexican fruit fly (A. ludens), guava fruit fly (A. striata), inga fruit fly (A. distincta), south american fruit fly (A. fraterculus), sapote fruit fly (A. serpentina), and the west indian fruit fly (A. obliqua), they must be hot-water treated prior to shipment in order to satisfy quarantine requirement. Hot water treatment often damages the fruit, especially if it is not fully mature. Hypobaric [low pressure (LP)] intermodal shipping containers developed by the VacuFresh Corp. preserve fresh commodities, such as horticulturally mature mangoes, far longer than is possible using other technologies. We tested the ability of caribbean fruit fly eggs and larvae to survive simulated optimal hypobaric conditions for shipment of mangoes [15 and 20 mm mercury (Hg), ≥98% relative humidity, 13 °C (the lowest, safe nonchilling temperature)]. Caribbean fruit fly eggs or larvae were maintained on agar media, flushed with one air change per hour at the storage pressure, and shielded with Mylar to prevent radiant heat uptake and limit evaporative cooling. Nearly 98% of the eggs and larvae were killed within 1 week at 15 and 20 mm Hg in nine replicated experiments. All eggs were killed by 11 days with a predicted kill of 99.999% of the eggs by 9.4 days in 15 mm Hg and 10.6 days in 20 mm Hg LP (based on Probit 9 statistical analysis), whereas a substantial number of eggs survived to 14 days at atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg). Shipment of fresh produce using this technology promises to provide quarantine control while preserving the freshness of fully mature tropical fruits and vegetables.

(47) Optimal Low Pressure Conditions for Long-term Storage of Fresh Commodities Kill Caribbean Fruit Fly Eggs and Larvae

U.S. regulations prevent importation of fresh horticultural commodities that have not received an approved quarantine treatment assuring 100% mortality of potentially invasive insect pests. Because imported mangoes are likely to be infested by the Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa Loew) and other tropical fruit flies such as A. ludens Loew, A. striata, A. distincta, A. fraterculus, A. serpentina, or A. oblique, they must be hot-water treated prior to shipment in order to satisfy quarantine requirement. Hot water treatment often damages the fruit, especially if it is not fully mature. Hypobaric (low pressure = LP) intermodal shipping containers developed by the VacuFreshSM Corp. preserve fresh commodities, such as horticulturally mature mangoes, far longer than is possible using other technologies. We tested the ability of over 70,000 Caribbean fruit fly eggs and larvae to survive a simulated optimal hypobaric condition for shipment of mangoes (15 mm Hg, 98% RH, at the lowest, safe non-chilling temperature, 13 °C). A. suspensa eggs or larvae were maintained on agar media, flushed with one air change per hour at the storage pressure, and shielded with Mylar to prevent radiant heat uptake and limit evaporative cooling. Nearly 98% of the eggs and larvae were killed within 1 week at 15 mm Hg in eight replicated experiments. All eggs were killed at that pressure by 11 days, whereas a significant number survived at ambient pressure. Shipment of fresh produce using this technology promises to provide quarantine control while preserving the freshness of fully mature tropical fruits and vegetables.

APPLICATION OF EDIBLE COATINGS TO IMPROVE SHELF-LIFE OF MEXICAN GUAVA

APPLICATION OF EDIBLE COATINGS TO IMPROVE SHELF-LIFE OF MEXICAN GUAVA