Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Introduction

Moment produce is harvested, from that point on quality cannot be improved; only maintained. Remember the suitability of produce for sale begins at harvest. Damage done to produce during harvest is irreparable. No postharvest treatments or miracle chemicals exist which can improve inferior quality produce resulting from improper handling.

Fruit and vegetables are highly perishable and unless great care is taken in there harvesting, handling and transportation, they soon decay and become unfit for human consumption. The process of decay being accelerated if poorly harvested and handled produce is placed in storage for any length of time.

Growers should understand that although there is a place for added value approach to the sale of produce, it is however of no value to purchase expensive equipment and packaging for produce if the basic product is already spoilt by poor harvesting, handling and storage. Hence, production costs, harvesting, handling, packaging, transport and marketing costs are the same irrespective of whether produce makes a premium at point of sale or is acceptable for storage or not.