The integrity of the supply chain of fruits and vegetables is important to public health and well-being. With expanding global trade, the issue of unsafe imported foods has become more acute and fresh produce remains a top food category for both number of foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. Prevalence of pathogens in the production environment, risks during harvest, cross-contamination in handling, and temperature fluctuations all suggest an opportunity for tracing the cumulative effects of these events on microorganisms on products from farm to retail. The goal was to demonstrate and describe microbial dynamics in the postharvest supply chain of fresh tomatoes. An observational study was conducted on tomatoes sampled from four locations of the postharvest supply chain from Mexico to USA and analyzed individually for microbial populations: aerobic mesophiles (APC), total coliforms (TC), generic Escherichia coli (EC), and yeasts/molds (YM). APC differed (p

Consideration of the interactions between decisions made at one point in the supply chain and its effects on the subsequent stages is the core concept of a systems approach. Postharvest Handling is unique in its application of this systems approach to the handling of fruits and vegetables, exploring multiple aspects of this important process through chapters written by experts from a variety of backgrounds.Newly updated and revised, this second edition includes coverage of the logistics of fresh produce from multiple perspectives, postharvest handing under varying weather conditions, quality control, changes in consumer eating habits and other factors key to successful postharvest handling.The ideal book for understanding the economic as well as physical impacts of postharvest handling decisions.Key Features:*Features contributions from leading experts providing a variety of perspectives*Updated with 12 new chapters*Focuses on application-based information for practical implementation*System approach is unique in the handling of fruits and vegetables

Microbial Safety of Fresh Produce covers all aspects of produce safety including pathogen ecology, agro-management, pre-harvest and post-harvest interventions, and adverse economic impacts of outbreaks. This most recent edition to the IFT Press book series examines the current state of the problems associated with fresh produce by reviewing the recent, high-profile outbreaks associated with fresh-produce, including the possible internalization of pathogens by plant tissues, and understanding how human pathogens survive and multiply in water, soils, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

The volume presents existing and novel management approaches that are in use or have a great potential to be used to maintain the postharvest quality of fresh produce in terms of microbiological safety, nutrition, and sensory quality. In comparison to traditional synthetic chemicals, these eco-friendly molecules are equally effective with respect to slowing the physiological and biochemical changes in harvested produce. Application of terpenic compounds, phenolic compounds, salicylic acid, methyl jasmonates, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, sulphur compounds, polyamines, plant growth regulators, active carbohydrates, ozone, hexanal and nitric oxide have been proven effective in minimizing storage disorders like chilling injury, scald, fungal diseases like stem-end rot, blue mould rot, green mould rot, anthracnose, regulation of ripening and senescence, etc. This book will be a standard reference work for the management of shelf life in the fresh produce industry.

Postharvest Management of Fresh Produce: Recent Advances critically addresses the latest issues, challenges, and technological advancements in postharvest management of fresh commodities, especially fruits, nuts, and vegetables. The book covers the intriguing correlation of preharvest treatments, maturity indices and postharvest operations that significantly affect the postharvest quality of fresh produce. Further topics include packaging, logistics and storage technologies, the role of microbial communities, and 'omics' strategies in postharvest disease management. Special attention is given to the latest trends of nanotechnology, internet of things (IoTs), and blockchain technologies in food supply chain management of perishable products. The book is a great resource for young and experienced professionals in academia, industry, and UG/PG students to explore a diversified range of topics in postharvest strategies relevant to food processing, food technologies, agro-processing and quality control. - Thoroughly explores major preharvest losses due to non-availabilities of the latest technologies - Describes the latest trends in the supply chain to minimize preharvest losses - Provides an overview on smart technologies such as nanotechnology, IoTs and blockchain technology

Microbial spoilage is challenge for a range of food industries and is also a major contributor to global food waste. In order to prevent and reduce microbial food spoilage, evidence-based strategies must be implemented throughout supply chains. To this end, the studies presented here contribute to (i) methods for monitoring spoilage microorganisms, (ii) improved understanding of sources and mechanisms of transmission of microorganisms into food, and (iii) potential strategies to implement at the various points in food supply chains aimed at preventing and reducing microbial spoilage. While microbial spoilage originating from sources throughout the food chain is an issue for many sectors, the studies presented here focus specifically on dairy and fresh produce. In the area of dairy quality, we provided insights into spore enumeration methods for milk powders and identified a set of methods that captures a wide range of variation in spore count across powders. We also contributed to understanding of routes of transmission of spoilage microorganisms into raw milk; specifically, we found bedding material had a direct influence on levels of spores in unused and used bedding, as well as an indirect association with spore levels in bulk tank raw milk through used bedding spore levels. Furthermore, we identified strategies at farm and processing levels for reducing microbial spoilage of dairy products. At the farm-level, we identified specific bedding and farm management practices associated with spores in bedding and bulk tank raw milk. At the processing-level, we identified important quality management practices associated with fluid milk spoilage due to post-pasteurization contamination, including cleaning and sanitation, employee training, and quality testing programs. Preventing microbial spoilage is also challenge for the fresh produce industry, yet relative to dairy, research in the area of microbial spoilage of fresh produce has been limited. Our foundational study of bacterial dynamics on spinach for a supply chain located in Northeast China, from point-of-harvest through shelf life, improved understanding of factors associated with spinach spoilage. Overall, these studies expand our understanding of microbial spoilage of dairy foods and fresh produce and will facilitate implementation evidence-based strategies for preventing and reducing microbial spoilage.

Microbiology of Fruits and Vegetables presents a holistic view of the problem of produce contamination that examines both pre-harvest and post-harvest sources and practices. It addresses a number of topical issues relating to the microbiological quality and safety of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and explores the linkage between microbial attachment, the state of microbial contaminants on produce surfaces, and the problem of decontamination. This volume focuses on five distinct areas, and within these areas, provides in-depth coverage of scientific issues important to an understanding of the field and technical issues of economic and public health significance.