Contains information on post-harvest handling and marketing operations and storage of fresh and processed products. Highlights technology which, when combined, has a positive and synergistic effect in preventing biochemical and physicochemical reactions and microbial growth - the main causes of quality losses in fruits and vegetables. Suggested methodologies combine technologies such as mild heat treatment, water activity reduction, lowering of the pH and use of anti-microbial substances to realize the potential of minimally processed, high-moisture fruit products. These relatively new technologies have been successfully applied to several important tropical and non-tropical fruits in different countries of Latin America.

This manual is intended to serve as a guide to farmers and processors of fruits and vegetables in rural areas. It contains basic but valuable information on post-harvest handling and marketing operations and storage of fresh and processed products. It provides practical examples of preserving fruits and vegetables addressing a combination of factors, highlighting technology which, when combined, has a positive and synergistic effect in preventing biochemical and physico-chemical reactions and microbial growth the main causes of quality losses in fruits and vegetables. The suggested methodologies combine technologies such as mild heat treatment, water activity reduction (aw), lowering of the pH and use of anti-microbial substances to realize the potential of minimally processed, high-moisture fruit products. These relatively new technologies have been successfully applied to several important tropical and non-tropical fruits in different countries of Latin America and are considered appropriate and recommended for use in other fruit-producing countries around the world. Contents Chapter 1: Fruits and Vegetables: An Overview on Socio-Economical and Technical Issues; Trade and global trends: Fruits and vegetables, Traditional consumption, Economic and social impact, Commercial constraints, Post-harvest losses and resource under-utilizaion in developing countries, Food losses after harvesting, Food losses due to social and economic issues, Pre-processing to add value, Pre-processing to avoid losses, Alternative processing methods for fruits and vegetables in rural areas, Scalding or blanching in hot water, Cooling in trays, Sulphiting, Sun drying and osmotic dehydration, Fermentation, Storage, Sample calculation for adjusting fruit soluble solids and acid contents; Chapter 2: Basic Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling Considerations for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables; Harvest handling, Maturity index for fruits and vegetables, Harvesting containers, Tools for harvesting, Packing in the field and transport to packinghouse, Post-harvest handling, Curing of roots, tubers, and bulb crops, Operations prior to packaging, Packaging, Cooling methods and temperatures, Storage, Pest control and decay; Chapter 3: General Considerations for Preservations of Fruits and Vegetables; Water Activity (aw) concept and its role in food preservation, aw concept, Microorganisms vs, aw values, Enzymatic and chemical changes related to aw values, Recommended euipment for measuring aw Intermediate Moisture Food (IMF) concept, Fruits preserved under IMF concept, Advantages and disadvantages of IMF preservation, Combined methods for preservation of fruits and vegetables: a preservation concept, Why combined methods?; General description of combined methods for fruits and vegetables, Recommended substances to reduce aw in fruits, Recommended substances to reduce pH, Recommended chemicals to prevent browning, Recommended additives to inhibit microorganisms, Recommended thermal treatment for food preservation; Chapter 4: Extension Of The Intermediate Moisture Concept to High Moisture Products; Preliminary operations, Desired aw and syrup formulation, Calculus required, Water contents vs aw relationship, Example of application, Packaging methods for minimally processed products, Packaging with small units, Transporting the package, Loading packaging units, Vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging, Transport, storage and use of fruits preserved by combined methods, Open vs refrigerated vehicles, Unloading, Storage temperature vs shelf life, Repackaging considerations, Syrup reconstitution and utilization, Optimal utilization of final products, Quality control, Recommended microbiological tests, Nutritional changes, Changes in sensory attributes and acceptability; Chapter 5: Procedures for Vegetables Preserved By Combined Methods; Preliminary operations, Combined optional treatments, Irradiation, Refrigeration, Modified atmosphere, Pickling, Fermentation, Packaging methods, Plastic containers and bags, Vacuum packaging; Modified atmosphere packaging, Transport, storage and use of vegetables preserved by combined methods, Open vs refrigerated vehicles, Unloading, Storage temperature vs shelf life, Repackaging considerations, Optimal utilization of the final products, Quality control, Recommended microbiological tests, Nutritional changes, Changes in sensory attributes and acceptability.

This manual provides information on freezing technology to preserve fruits and vegetables in small-scale operations. Practical examples demonstrating the application of the technology are given to provide a better understanding of the processes. Compared to other conventional methods used in the storage of fruits and vegetables, freezing is the most satisfactory method in terms of quality, process and overall cost. Currently, the frozen food market is one the largest sectors in the food industry. Industrialized countries dominate the trade in frozen food commodities, but developing countries can also develop their own frozen food industries. Introduction of adequate freezing technology is essential to meet the growing consumer demand for frozen foods in developing countries.

The book consists of 19 chapters on different subjects and in different dimensions, with particular emphasis on the post-harvest handling and processing of fruits and vegetables, including mushrooms. Scope for the technology on fruits and vegetables, non-destructive methods to evaluate fresh quality, radiation preservation, chemistry of pectin and pigments and their applications, nutraceutical compounds, membrane processing of liquid fruits, dehydrated and intermediate moisture products, importance of bamboo and mushrooms as food, influence of process conditions on product quality, food additives in product preparation, packaging aspects, microbiological safety concerns, relevant analytical methods, mushroom nutraceuticals and bio-technological interventions for improvement of banana with a final note on conclusions in the last

Fruits and fruit based products are, in most cases, associated with very good sensory characteristics, health, well-being, perishability, relatively easy to mix with food products of diverse origin, amenable to be processed by conventional and novel technologies. Given the multiplicity of aspects whenever fruit preservation is considered, the editors took the challenge of covering in a thorough, comprehensive manner most aspects dealing with this topic. To accomplish these goals, the editors invited well known colleagues with expertise in specific disciplines associated with fruit preservation to contribute chapters to this book. Eighteen chapters were assembled in a sequence that would facilitate, like building blocks, to have at the same time, a birds-eye view and an in-depth coverage of traditional and novel technologies to preserve fruits. Even though processing took center stage in this book, ample space was dedicated to other relevant and timely topics on fruit preservation such as safety, consumer perception, sensory and health aspects. FEATURES: Traditional and Novel Technologies to Process Fruits Microwaves Ohmic Heating UV-C light Irradiation High Pressure Pulsed Electric Fields Ultrasound Vacuum Impregnation Membranes Ozone Hurdle Technology Topics Associated with Fruit Preservation Safety Nutrition and Health Consumer Perception Sensory Minimal Processing Packaging Unit Operations for Fruit Processing Cooling and Freezing Dehydration Frying

Food Safety Management: A Practical Guide for the Food Industry, Second Edition continues to present a comprehensive, integrated and practical approach to the management of food safety throughout the production chain. While many books address specific aspects of food safety, no other book guides you through the various risks associated with each sector of the production process or alerts you to the measures needed to mitigate those risks. This new edition provides practical examples of incidents and their root causes, highlighting pitfalls in food safety management and providing key insights into different means for avoiding them. Each section addresses its subject in terms of relevance and application to food safety and, where applicable, spoilage. The book covers all types of risks (e.g., microbial, chemical, physical) associated with each step of the food chain, making it an ideal resource. Addresses risks and controls at various stages of the food supply chain based on food type, including a generic HACCP study and new information on FSMA Covers the latest emerging technologies for ensuring food safety Includes observations on what works and what doesn't on issues in food safety management Provides practical guidelines for the implementation of elements of the food safety assurance system Explains the role of different stakeholders of the food supply