Innovative Preservation Technology for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

TLDR

Preserving the freshness of fruits and vegetables during the cold chain is challenged by quality losses and microbial decay, prompting the development of innovative postharvest technologies across the supply chain. This issue compiles five original studies and two reviews that evaluate how innovative packaging and postharvest treatments affect quality retention.

Abstract

The preservation of the freshness of fruits and vegetables until their consumption is the aim of many research activities. Quality losses of fresh fruit and vegetables during cold chain are frequently attributable to an inappropriate use of postharvest technologies. Moreover, especially when fresh produce is transported to distant markets, it is necessary to adopt proper postharvest preservation technologies in order to preserve the initial quality and limit microbial decay. Nowadays, for each step of supply chain (packing house, cold storage rooms, precooling center, refrigerate transport and distribution), are available innovative preservation technologies that, alone or in combination, could improve the fresh products in order to maintain the principal quality and nutritional characteristics. The issue groups five original studies and two comprehensive reviews within the topic of preservation technologies related to innovative packaging and postharvest operation and treatments, highlighting their effect on quality keeping.