Improved quality requires integration across business functions and scientific disciplines. Based on this premise, Fruit and Vegetable Quality: An Integrated View presents 15 unique perspectives on achieving greater quality and guidance for a more integrated approach to postharvest handling and fruit and vegetable research. Designed for anyo

Preharvest Modulation of Postharvest Fruit and Vegetable Quality is the first book to focus on the potential yield quality, quantity and safety benefits of intervention during growth. Of the many factors responsible for overall quality of produce, about 70 percent comes from pre-harvest conditions. Written by an international team of experts, this book presents the key opportunities and challenges of pre-harvest interventions. From selecting the most appropriate growing scenario, to treating plants during the maturation process, to evaluating for quality factors to determine appropriate interventions, this book provides an integrated look at maximizing crop yield through preventative means. In fact, with the very best of postharvest knowledge and technologies available, the best that can be achieved is a reduction in the rate at which products deteriorate as they progress through their normal developmental pattern of maturation, ripening and senescence. Therefore, it is very important to understand what pre-harvest factors influence the many important harvest quality attributes that affect the rate of postharvest deterioration and, subsequently, the consumers' decision to purchase the product in the marketplace. - Presents the important pre-harvest factors that influence harvest quality - Includes up-to-date information on pre-harvest factors that modulate post-harvest biology - Identifies potential methodologies and technologies to enhance pre-harvest interventions

Fruit and vegetables are both major food products in their own right and key ingredients in many processed foods. There has been growing research on their importance to health and techniques to preserve the nutritional and sensory qualities desired by consumers. This major collection summarises some of the key themes in this recent research.Part one looks at fruit, vegetables and health. There are chapters on the health benefits of increased fruit and vegetable consumption, antioxidants and improving the nutritional quality of processed fruits. Part two considers ways of managing safety and quality through the supply chain. A number of chapters discuss the production of fresh fruit and vegetables, looking at modelling, the use of HACCP systems and ways of maintaining postharvest quality. There are also two chapters on instrumentation for measuring quality. Two final chapters look at maintaining the safety and quality of processed fruit and vegetables. Part three reviews technologies to improve fruit and vegetable products. Two chapters consider how to extend the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables during cultivation. The following three chapters then consider how postharvest handling can improve quality, covering minimal processing, new modified atmosphere packaging techniques and the use of edible coatings. Two final chapters discuss two major recent technologies in processing fruit and vegetables: high pressure processing and the use of vacuum technology.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Fruit and vegetable processing provides an authoritative review of key research on measuring and improving the quality of both fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. - Reviews recent research on improving the sensory, nutritional and functional qualities of fruit and vegetables, whether as fresh or processed products - Examines the importance of fruits and vegetables in processed foods and outlines techniques to preserve the nutritional and sensory qualities desired by consumers - Discusses two major technologies in processing fruits and vegetables: high pressure processing and the use of vacuum technology

Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Technologies and Mechanisms for Safety Control covers conventional and emerging technologies in one single source to help industry professionals maintain and enhance nutritional and sensorial quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from a quality and safety perspective. The book provides available literature on different approaches used in fresh-cut processing to ensure safety and quality. It discusses techniques with the aim of preserving quality and safety in sometimes unpredictable environments. Sanitizers, antioxidants, texturizers, natural additives, fortificants, probiotics, edible coatings, active and intelligent packaging are all presented. Both advantages and potential consequences are included to ensure microbial safety, shelf-life stability and preservation of organoleptic and nutritional quality. Industry researchers, professionals and students will all find this resource essential to understand the feasibility and operability of these techniques in modern-day processing to make informed choices. - Provides current information on microbial infection, quality preservation, and technology with in-depth discussions on safety mechanisms - Presents ways to avoid residue avoidance in packaging and preservation - Includes quality issues of microbial degradation and presents solutions for pre-harvest management

Acceptance or rejection of any edible commodity, whether it is raw or processed, is usually conditioned by sensory stimuli. The impact of these stimuli on the decision-making proce·ss is broadly termed sensory evaluation. Advances in sensory evaluation research have been slow in the past because of the human factor-the necessity to use highly trained sensory panels to conduct this research. High technology in strumentation and new understandings of sensory evaluations are now combining to make possible quantum jumps forward in sensory eval uation research. It is widely recognized that the sensory aspects of fruits and vegeta bles are affected by many factors, among them environment, variety, cultural practices, and handling practices. However, if one attempts to find a general reference or compilation of findings regarding this sub ject area there seems to be few, if any, available. A survey of the literature does suggest that in the past few years research into specific factors which influence the sensory aspects of fruits and vegetables has increased significantly. This increased interest in sensory research and the renewed national awareness of the value of research into pre and postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables prompted the Flavor Subdivision, Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division, American Chemical Society to sponsor a symposium entitled "Sensory Evalua tion of Fruits and Vegetables: Effect of Environment, Cultural Prac tices and Variety" during the 1982 meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Emphasis in agricultural research for many years has concen trated on crop production. This emphasis has become more important in recent years with the realization that the population worldwide is outstripping the food supply. There is, however, another side to increasing the availability of the food supply. This simply involves preservation of the harvested crop·for human consumption. The losses incurred in harvesting, handling, transportation, storage and marketing crops have become a greater problem as the distance from the farm to the ultimate consumer increases. In the Western world where modern transportation, storage facilities, and marketing technology are widely used, post-harvest technology requires a large input of energy which increases costs considerably. There fore, losses are more significant and the ability to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, out of season, at reasonable costs will depend on reduced post-harvest losses throughout the marketing chain from the farm gate to the ultimate consumer. The reduction in post-harvest losses depends on proper use of current technology and further developments derived from a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines. Biochemistry, plant physiology, plant pathology, horticulture, agronomy, physics, engineering and agricultural economics, all provide knowledge which has been useful and will be useful in the future for improving post-harvest technol ogy and crop preservation. This volume records the Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Post-Harvest Physiology and Crop Preservation, held at Sounion, Greece, April 28 - May 8, 1981.

Despite a worldwide increase in demand for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, in many countries these products are prepared in uncontrolled conditions and have the potential to pose substantial risk for consumers. Correspondingly, researchers have ramped up efforts to provide adequate technologies and practices to assure product safety while keeping n