Fresh Vegetable Products Research Articles

Lost vegetables, lost value: Assessment of carrot downgrading and losses at a large producer organisation

Retailers usually impose strict private quality standards on fresh fruit and vegetable products, mainly focused on cosmetic features. At the supplier level, this generates a stream of suboptimal products that cannot be sold on the fresh market. This article studies the impact of these standards on suppliers by means of a direct quantification conducted in 2023 in the carrot supply chain of an Italian Producer Organisation. 34.64% of the carrots processed in terms of mass is downgraded because of non-compliance with the standards imposed by retailers, while 12.57% is lost at the primary stage due to food safety reasons. Downgrading occurs as a result of cosmetic imperfection (33.28% of mass) or because carrots are out-of-size (66.72%). The downgraded carrots are re-processed for industry, generating an additional loss of 15.27% of mass along the way. The economic loss linked to downgrading would account for 22.05% of potential turnover if no cosmetic quality standards were applied. By modelling a series of hypothetical scenarios, this article discusses the impact on the producer if the private quality standards imposed by retailers were more flexible.

Research on Vegetable Product Replenishment Decision Based on K-means Algorithm

The decision-making and pricing of supermarket restocking is a complex task that requires considering factors such as market demand, supply changes, and operating costs, making scientific and accurate decisions, providing customers with rich and fresh vegetable products, and promoting sustainable development. The pricing of vegetables in supermarkets generally adopts the "cost plus pricing" method, and supermarkets will formulate reasonable sales prices based on comprehensive considerations such as procurement costs, transportation costs, and operating costs. For products that may be damaged during transportation and have poor product quality, supermarkets usually offer discounts to meet customer needs and reduce food waste. This article first uses Excel software to describe and statistically analyze the data, transpose and visualize the data. Then, using the K-means algorithm in cluster analysis, the distribution patterns and interrelationships of vegetable categories and single product sales were analyzed in more detail. Finally, using Excel software, calculate the cost plus pricing for each vegetable category based on the formula "cost plus pricing=unit cost (1+cost profit margin)", and reasonable analysis is carried out according to the calculation results.This study on the calculation of cost-plus pricing for each vegetable category is of great significance to ensure the economic benefits of vegetable suppliers, improve the sustainability of agricultural production, optimize resource allocation, enhance market competitiveness, and promote the healthy development of the vegetable industry.

Evaluating temperature variation of nutrient solution in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) cooling system for temperate vegetable

The production of leafy green vegetables in hydroponic systems within greenhouses has gained global prominence in the fresh vegetable production industry. Hydroponic systems, particularly Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), are highly effective due to their soilless nature and efficient nutrient and water circulation. However, maintaining ideal greenhouse temperatures can be challenging. One strategy to reduce energy costs is to heat or cool the nutrient solution instead of the entire greenhouse environment. By regulating the root zone temperature through nutrient solution management, growers can provide more favourable conditions for temperate leafy greens. These conditions are critical because temperatures above 23°C can inhibit plant growth, while temperatures exceeding 35°C can significantly reduce plant metabolism efficiency. This study investigates how lettuce responds to nutrient solution cooling. Importantly, this research focuses on Malaysia, an equatorial country with a consistently warm and humid climate. In such environments, controlling nutrient solution or air temperature to match the crops' optimal growth requirements is crucial. The study employed Butterhead and Romaine lettuce varieties in a hydroponic NFT system. The EC (Environmental Cooling) treatment involved cooling the nutrient solution, while the RZC (Root Zone Cooling) treatment utilized environmental cooling. The results demonstrated that maintaining a consistent nutrient solution temperature within the range of 14°C to 18°C (as observed in the EC treatment) led to superior plant growth and quality, particularly in the early growth stages. In contrast, the RZC treatment showed temperature fluctuations, causing plant stress and inhibiting growth.

Automatic pricing and replenishment decision-making for vegetable products based on optimization models

Addressing the replenishment and pricing issues of vegetable products is crucial for ensuring product quality and freshness, optimizing sales combinations, refining pricing strategies, and enhancing operational efficiency. Through scientific data analysis and decision-making, supermarkets can better meet consumer demands, enhance competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development. This paper discusses the complex issues of procurement and pricing of fresh vegetable products in current supermarkets. It employs methods such as hierarchical clustering analysis, Topsis evaluation, and optimization models to construct data models, establishing multiple models to address replenishment and pricing decision-making from various perspectives. The research indicates, firstly, the paper categorizes vegetable products into four clusters, explores complementary and substitute products within them, and discovers that reasonable sales combinations among different types of single products can mutually promote sales, leading to higher economic benefits for supermarkets. Secondly, the paper derives a mathematical model describing the relationship between total profit, total sales volume of individual products, and pricing. This model provides valuable recommendations for supermarkets replenishment and pricing decisions, ensuring practical implementation of pricing and replenishment plans. Thirdly, the paper establishes a model for maximizing profits under constant replenishment quantities, assisting supermarkets in formulating more scientific replenishment plans for individual products within a limited number of available items. By judiciously applying the innovative mathematical models presented in this paper, supermarkets can obtain reliable market analysis and make corresponding replenishment and pricing decisions.

Weed control, soil health, and yield tradeoffs of between-bed management strategies in organic plasticulture vegetable production

Planting a cover crop living mulch between plastic mulch beds in fresh market vegetable production can reduce soil erosion and runoff, and offers an opportunity to grow an income generating cash crop alongside a soil building cover crop. However, potential negative impacts on yield, variable weed control, unclear impacts on soil health, and limited management recommendations challenge adoption of this practice, despite grower interest. In a two-year study in southwest Michigan, living mulches were evaluated in the production of plasticulture organic summer squash (Cucurbita pepo cv. Lioness) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Paladin). Strategies evaluated included three common grower practices (cultivation, dead straw mulch, mowing ambient weeds) and three mowed living mulch treatments (Italian ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum] monoculture, rye [Secale cereale] monoculture, and a Dutch white clover [Trifolium repens]/rye mixture). We determined the impact of these strategies on weed control, organic matter inputs, vegetable crop performance, nitrogen retention, and soil microbial communities. We found that cultivation and dead mulch provided superior in-season weed control, reducing weed biomass by an average of 86% compared to 18% among living mulch treatments, with associated reductions in the weed seedbank compared to living mulches and mowed weeds. In most cases, living mulch establishment was a challenge and weed biomass on average accounted for 99, 74, and 94% of organic matter inputs in rye, ryegrass, and clover/rye treatments, respectively. Squash performance was unaffected by our treatments, but pepper yield reductions ranged from 41 to 54% in all treatments relative to cultivation in one of two years. Living mulches and the weedy treatment showed the ability to reduce end-of-season potentially leachable nitrogen by 61% compared to cultivation and dead mulching. Soil microbial abundance and functional diversity were similar across treatments, but extracellular enzyme activity was higher in dead mulch, living mulch and weedy treatments compared to cultivation. Results from this study help quantify tradeoffs between common grower practices for managing weeds and soil between plastic mulch beds, highlight key challenges with living mulch alternatives, and identify areas for future research.

Cadmium and lead in fresh vegetables and vegetable products sold on the local market in the Republic of Serbia, 2018–2021

ABSTRACT Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations were determined in samples of 31 species of vegetables (n = 719) and in vegetable products (n = 17), collected during the period January 2018 to September 2021. These originated from 33 countries, including Serbia. The samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Overall, Cd and Pb were found above the limit of detection in 123 (16.7%, n = 736) and 90 (12.2%; n = 736) samples, respectively. According to the former legislation, valid until the end of August 2021, the maximum levels (MLs) of Cd and Pb were exceeded in 1 and 2 samples of vegetables, respectively. Regarding the EU and Serbian legislation which is valid since September 2021 the MLs of Cd and Pb for vegetables were exceeded in 7 samples: Cd in 5 and Pb in 2 samples. In addition, 3 vegetable product samples exceeded the MLs for both cadmium and lead according to both former and current regulations.

Research on Pricing and Replenishment Decision of Vegetable Products Based on Optimization Algorithms

With the improvement of people's living standards, people's requirements for the freshness and variety richness of food are also constantly increasing. Due to the short shelf life of fresh vegetable products, reasonable prediction and formulation of pricing and replenishment strategies have a significant impact on supermarket revenue. This article first cleans the data and uses Excel and Grabbs statistics to determine the missing and abnormal values of the data. The missing values are supplemented by 0, and the abnormal values are determined and eliminated through manual intervention. Conduct descriptive statistics on the preprocessed data to obtain partial data features of categories classified by day and month. Analyze numerical features to determine the distribution pattern of data using monthly classification, and then use SPSS PRO to conduct Spearman correlation analysis to obtain the relationship between vegetable categories. Next, this article quantifies six data indicators, including daily sales volume of each category, average unit price during normal sales, and discount degree. Then, MATLAB is used for regression fitting analysis to obtain the relationship expressions between each indicator and the total sales volume. Excel analysis is used to summarize the data to obtain the available variety information of each item of vegetables in the supermarket from June 24th to 30th, And use Python software to establish a time series prediction model to analyze and process the information of supermarket products, and obtain the demand for individual products on July 1st. Using the single product selected by the supermarket as the 0-1 decision variable, and the total operating profit and supply demand relationship of the supermarket as the dual objective variables, a multiple linear regression model is constructed to obtain the final replenishment policy and pricing decision. The data in this paper is from the National College Students Mathematical Modeling Competition C question.

Research On LSTM-Based Pricing Strategy for Vegetable Category Wholesale Price Prediction and Multi-Objective Planning

Fresh vegetable products constitute an indispensable facet of both daily life and the developmental trajectory of the food industry. Owing to the susceptibility to damage and spoilage, vegetable commodities frequently engender substantial financial losses for food retail establishments. This paper addresses the replenishment and pricing decision problem for vegetable commodities and proposes a solution based on goal programming and LSTM time series forecasting models. Firstly, historical data analysis reveals a linear or logarithmic correlation between vegetable sales volume and cost-plus pricing. Subsequently, an LSTM neural network model is employed to forecast wholesale vegetable prices for the upcoming week. Building upon the forecasted results, a multi-objective programming model is established with the objective of maximizing revenue, utilizing daily replenishment total and pricing as decision variables. The model takes into account the constrained relationship between sales volume and pricing, as well as the lower limit constraint on wholesale prices. Additionally, the paper solves the programming model using the least squares method to determine the optimal daily replenishment quantity and pricing for each vegetable category. Finally, the computational results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in guiding replenishment and pricing decisions for supermarkets, achieving revenue maximization. This study provides a feasible quantitative decision-making solution for supermarkets facing complex replenishment and pricing issues.

ANALISIS KEPUASAN KONSUMEN PADA RANTAI PASOK PANGAN PENDEK PRODUK SAYUR SEGAR DI KABUPATEN CIREBON

The increasing demand for fresh vegetable products has changed consumer patterns to buy directly from producer farmers to get products easily but of good quality, then a short supply chain marketing appeared at the Griya Hidroponics Cirebon which could provide opportunities for creating consumer satisfaction. This study have a purpose to determine the effect off product quality, price and service simultan on customer satisfaction in the short supply chain of fresh vegetable products at Griya Hydroponics Cirebon and to determine the effect of product quality, price and service parsial on customer satisfaction in the short product supply chain fresh vegetables at Griya Hydroponics Cirebon. This research design uses quantitative survey methods. Analysis technique using multiple linear regression analysis, with a total sample of 80 respondents. The results showed that there was an effect of product quality, price and service simultan and parsial on consumer satisfaction in the short supply chain of fresh vegetable products at Griya Hidroponics Cirebon, dominated by product quality variables.

Analysis of Consumer Attitudes on Purchase Decisions for Fresh Vegetable Products at the Modern Market in Medan City

Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Vegetables that are consumed in moderation can help protect the body from all diseases. During the pandemic, sales of vegetables increased 3 times from before, because during the pandemic, many consumers chose a healthy lifestyle by consuming fresh vegetables. Economically, traditional markets are able to fulfill the necessities of life and serve as a space for empowering the people's economy. However, currently the modern market does not only target the middle and upper market, but almost all segments are the target market. The higher the socio-economic status of the community, the higher the demand for quality needs and needs. For this purpose, it is important to conduct research on the Analysis of Consumer Attitudes on Purchase Decisions for Fresh Vegetable Products at the Modern Market in Medan City. In this study used the method Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the effect of age, income, education level, number of dependents on the decision to buy fresh vegetables in the modern market in Medan City. The decision to purchase fresh vegetables at the Medan City Modern Market (Smarco Supermarket, Brastagi Supermarket, Hypermart and Irian) is significantly influenced by the consumer's education level, while the consumer's age, consumer income and the number of consumer dependents have no positive effect. Factors of consumer education level, consumer age, consumer income and the number of consumer dependents have a positive effect.

Contamination Levels and Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Isolated from Fresh Salad Vegetables in the United Arab Emirates.

Contaminated fresh produce has been identified as a vehicle for human foodborne illness. The present study investigated the counts, antimicrobial resistance profile, and genome-based characterization of Escherichia coli in 11 different types of fresh salad vegetable products (n = 400) sampled from retailers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. E. coli was detected in 30% of the tested fresh salad vegetable items, with 26.5% of the samples having an unsatisfactory level (≥100 CFU/g) of E. coli, notably arugula and spinach. The study also assessed the effect of the variability in sample conditions on E. coli counts and found, based on negative binominal regression analysis, that samples from local produce had a significantly higher (p-value < 0.001) E. coli count than imported samples. The analysis also indicated that fresh salad vegetables from the soil-less farming system (e.g., hydroponic and aeroponic) had significantly (p-value < 0.001) fewer E. coli than those from traditional produce farming. The study also examined the antimicrobial resistance in E. coli (n = 145) recovered from fresh salad vegetables and found that isolates exhibited the highest phenotypic resistance toward ampicillin (20.68%), tetracycline (20%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (10.35%). A total of 20 (13.79%) of the 145 E. coli isolates exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype, all from locally sourced leafy salad vegetables. The study further characterized 18 of the 20 multidrug-resistant E. coli isolates using whole-genome sequencing and found that the isolates had varying numbers of virulence-related genes, ranging from 8 to 25 per isolate. The frequently observed genes likely involved in extra-intestinal infection were CsgA, FimH, iss, and afaA. The β-lactamases gene blaCTX-M-15 was prevalent in 50% (9/18) of the E. coli isolates identified from leafy salad vegetable samples. The study highlights the potential risk of foodborne illness and the likely spread of antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes associated with consuming leafy salad vegetables and emphasizes the importance of proper food safety practices, including proper storage and handling of fresh produce.

INTENSITY OF ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN RADISH AND LETTUCE GROWN IN CLOSED SOILS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST STEPPE OF THE RIGHT BANK

One of the important tasks in vegetable production is the expansion of the range of vegetable crops in open and closed soil, which will ensure a constant supply of fresh vegetable products to consumers throughout the year. Lettuce and radish are among the many green vegetables that play an important role in solving this problem. In this work, the intensity of accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu) in lettuce of the Record variety and radish of the Saxony variety in closed and open conditions of dark gray podzolized soil was studied. It was established that the concentration of Pb, Cd, and Zn in seeded lettuce grown under closed soil conditions was 1.5 times, 1.8 and 1.12 times lower, respectively, and in seeded radish by 1.5 times, 1.05 and 1, 23 times compared to similar products grown in open ground conditions. When growing lettuce and radish in closed soil conditions, the accumulation coefficient of Pb, Cd, Zn was lower by 2.0 times and 2.0 times, 1.8 times and 1.6 times, and 1.2 times and 1.2 times, respectively compared to similar products grown in open ground conditions. The coefficient of accumulation of Pb, Cd, Zn in lettuce grown in open ground was 2.0, 1.8, 1.12 times higher than that of lettuce grown in closed ground, respectively, and the coefficient of Pb accumulation in radish roots grown in open ground was 2.0 times higher than in the closed one, Cd concentration 1.6 times, Zn 1.2 times, and Cu 1.2 times, respectively. The research results showed that the hazard ratio of Pb in lettuce leaves and radish roots when grown in open ground was 1.5 times higher compared to similar vegetables grown in closed ground, the hazard ratio of Cd and Zn in lettuce leaves and radish roots grown under conditions of open soil was 1.8 and 1.06 times higher, respectively, compared to vegetables grown in closed soil, the hazard ratio of Cu in lettuce that was grown under closed soil conditions was 0.7 times higher compared to that grown in open soil. In radish roots, the risk factor of Cu was 1.5 times higher than in vegetables grown under open soil conditions.

Scalable coupled aquaponics design: Lettuce and tilapia production using a parallel unit process approach

Coupled aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) with hydroponic cropping systems (HCS) into a single system with shared water treatment units. Potential benefits of integration include water conservation, reduced reliance on finite mineral fertilizers, and intensive year-round location-independent production of lean proteins and fresh vegetables. However, coupled aquaponic practitioners have found minimal commercial success to date. This has been mostly due to the use of system designs which are not based on contemporary water treatment principles, especially those for commercial aquaculture. Instead, conventional coupled aquaponic system design has been based on a linear framework assuming fish wastes are readily utilized as plant fertilizers, with minimal emphasis on waste treatment or individual component hydraulic retention times. The result has been economic failures due to misbalancing the cost of inputs, the value of the outputs, and the time required to reach a marketable harvest size for both crops: fish and plants. This manuscript provides theoretical calculations based on existing standards in commercial RAS and HCS for sizing plant, fish, and biofiltration units focused on nitrogenous waste production from fish. Successful integration of HCS and RAS is defined as achieving industry standard production timelines for lettuce (seed to harvest time of 35 days) and Nile tilapia (fry to a 624 g average harvest weight in 35 weeks). Equations and examples to calculate lettuce yield, daily lettuce nitrogen requirement, fish feed rates to achieve specific nitrogen production rates, and fish tank and biofilter volumes are provided.

Cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic in fresh vegetables and vegetable products intended for human consumption in the Republic of Serbia, 2015–2017

ABSTRACT The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were determined in 455 samples of 27 species of vegetables and 28 different processed vegetables collected during the period from January 2015 to December 2017. Vegetables (n = 387) and vegetable products (n = 68) originated from 31 countries, including Serbia. The samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Hg and As in the vegetables and vegetable products were compared to the maximum levels set by the European Union and the Serbian legislation. The concentration of mercury was less than the limit of detection in each analysed sample. One or multiple measurable toxic metals (Cd, Pb and/or As) were found in 250 samples (54.9%; n = 455). According to the Regulations which were valid until the end of August 2021, the maximum levels of Cd, Pb and As were exceeded in 19 samples (4.2% of the samples of vegetable and vegetable products; n = 455), i.e. in 13 samples of vegetables: Cd in three, Pb in nine and As in one sample and in 6 samples of vegetables products: Cd in three, Pb in one and As in two samples. Regarding the new EU and Serbian legislation which is valid since September 2021 the maximum levels of Cd and Pb for vegetables and vegetable products were exceeded in 118 samples (25.9% of the samples of vegetable and vegetable products; n = 455), i.e. in 95 samples of vegetables: Cd in 67 and Pb in 28 samples and in 23 samples of vegetable products: Cd in 20 and Pb in 3 samples.

Vegetables and fruits retailers in two urban areas of Bangladesh: Disruption due to COVID- 19 and implications for NCDs.

Bangladesh is experiencing an increasing prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Considering daily total requirement of 5 servings as minimum recommended amount, 95.7% of people do not consume adequate fruit or vegetables on an average day in the country. Imposition of lockdown during COVID-19 created disturbance in fresh fruits and vegetable production and their retailing. This incident can make these dietary products less affordable by stimulating price and trigger NCDs. However, little is known about the supply chain actors of healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits in urban areas, and how they were affected due to pandemic. Aiming toward the impact of COVID-19 on the business practices and outcomes for the vegetables and fruits retailers in Bangladesh, a survey of 1,319 retailers was conducted in two urban areas, namely Dhaka and Manikganj from September 2021 to October 2021. To comprehend the impact of COVID-19 on the profit margin of the retailers and on the percentage change in sales, a logistic and an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression were estimated. Significant difference in the weekly business days and daily business operations was observed. The average daily sales were estimated to have a 42% reduction in comparison to pre-COVID level. The daily average profit margin on sales was reportedly reduced to 17% from an average level of 21% in the normal period. Nevertheless, this impact is estimated to be disproportionate to the product type and subject to business location. The probability of facing a reduction in profit margin is higher for the fruit sellers than the vegetable sellers. Contemplating the business location, the retailers in Manikganj (a small city) faced an average of 19 percentage points less reduction in their sales than those in Dhaka (a large city). Area-specific and product-specific intervention are required for minimizing the vulnerability of retailers of vegetables and fruits and ensuring smooth supply of fruits and vegetables and increasing their uptake to combat diet related NCD.

A Genome-Wide View of the Transcriptome Dynamics of Fresh-Cut Potato Tubers.

Fresh fruits and vegetable products are easily perishable during postharvest handling due to enzymatic browning reactions. This phenomenon has contributed to a significant loss of food. To reveal the physiological changes in fresh-cut potato tubers at the molecular level, a transcriptome analysis of potato tubers after cutting was carried out. A total of 10,872, 10,449, and 11,880 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 4 h, 12 h and 24 h after cutting, respectively. More than 87.5% of these DEGs were classified into the categories of biological process (BP) and molecular function (MF) based on Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. There was a difference in the response to cutting at different stages after the cutting of potato tubers. The genes related to the phenol and fatty biosynthesis pathways, which are responsible for enzymatic browning and wound healing in potato tubers, were significantly enriched at 0-24 h after cutting. Most genes related to the enzymatic browning of potato tubers were up-regulated in response to cut-wounding. Plant hormone biosynthesis, signal molecular biosynthesis and transduction-related genes, such as gibberelin (GA), cytokinin (CK), ethylene (ET), auxin (IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic (SA), and Respiratory burst oxidase (Rboh) significantly changed at the early stage after cutting. In addition, the transcription factors involved in the wound response were the most abundant at the early stage after cutting. The transcription factor with the greatest response to injury was MYB, followed by AP2-EREBP, C3H and WRKY. This study revealed the physiological changes at the molecular level of fresh-cut potato tubers after cutting. This information is needed for developing a better approach to enhancing the postharvest shelf life of fresh processed potato and the breeding of potato plants that are resistant to enzymatic browning.

Screening Of Varietal Adaptation Under Soilless Hydroponics System Of Abelmoschus Esculentum (L.) Moench

Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench, commonly called OKHRA, Family- Malvaceae is a very popular vegetable over the country considering their wide acceptability within the multicultural Indian population and high nutritional value. Due to gradual increasing of population coupled with urbanization and shrinking of productive land, an additionally low supply chain insists to transform urban agriculture for indoor, vertical and container as well as kitchen/classroom/community fresh vegetable production. Among various types of indoor crop production ‘Hydroponics” (use of soilless nutrients) seems best due to their low cost, labour insensitive and sustainable approach. The objective of this study is to test the differential adaptive response of popular okhra varieties Kamini and Pusa Mukhamali under a soilless hydroponics system using disposable cold drink bottles. In this dissertation data was recorded for selecting the germinating substrate and detailed morphometric assessments were performed for screening the suitable variety for hydroponic plantation. From this study it was hypothesized that in all aspects var 1 (Kamini) seemed much more adapted to the soil-less hydroponics system than var 2 (Pusa Mukhamali). Henceforth, var 1 (Kamini) can be recommended for soil-less hydroponics cultivation under normal net house/ balconies/ shaded roofs at lower Gangetic regions of West Bengal. This screening model can also be utilized for using as a component of urban agriculture for indoor, vertical and container as well as kitchen/classroom/community Fresh vegetable production.

The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

The fruit and vegetable industry is an important segment of the U.S. agriculture. The 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census shows that the industry had total sales of USD 48 billion from over 10 million acres of land. However, over the last two decades, production of major fruit and vegetable crops in the United States has been declining while imports have grown significantly. The rapidly growing imports have posed challenges to the sustainability of the U.S. domestic industry. This study provides a systematic industry review of fresh fruit and vegetable production and trade between the United States and Mexico, by far the largest source of U.S. imports, highlighting the structural shift in the market over the last two decades and the caveats for industry sustainability. The analysis shows that Florida, Georgia, and California are among the states that face the strongest competition from Mexico. Among the 10 crops reviewed, berry, tomato, pepper, and cucumber production has been affected the most. The study further discusses the factors driving the rapid growth of imports and shows the importance of innovation and policy reform to the sustainability of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry.

Design and Fabrication of Root Vegetable Washer

Abstract: Washing is the primary and an essential operation in the production and distribution of fresh root vegetables. Root vegetables like carrot, radish, ginger etc. needs to be pre-cleaned before transporting from field to market. At present there is no primary and an economical processing unit for small scale farmers. A stainless steel, portable pedal operated vegetable washer was developed. After harvesting the Root vegetables like potato, carrots, radish, etc. have to be cleaned off the soil, remove the clay particles and other microbial contaminants for a healthy and acceptable produce for the consumers. Normally the Farmers in India use the Traditional methods to clean the root vegetables which are found to be less effective in cleaning process and also it is a time consuming process which involves additional labour. Hence to avoid these problems our project could the best possible solution in order to solve the problem of small scale farmers

Evaluation of insecticides and suitable trap containers for effective fruit fly catches

Fruit flies are quarantine pests and major impediments in horticultural production, domestic market, and export of fresh fruits and vegetables. Trapping with a lure is the best known method to monitor/ manage the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis populations. The fruit fly attraction and its mortality depend on the lure, type of killing agent, and design of the trap container. To make the trapping technology more robust, a study was conducted to find out the suitable killing agent amongst ten insecticides and the best trap design among the available six trap designs. The results revealed that emamectin benzoate 1.9EC was superior as killing agent with the maximum trap catches (648.75 to 1304.75 fruit flies/ trap) up to 12 weeks, followed by abamectin 1.9EC and profenophos 50EC. Among the trap designs, the CISH trap container was found to be superior (306.25 to 940.00 fruit flies/ trap/ week).