Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Effects of Cold storage

Effect of cold storage on subsequent behaviour of horticultural produce
At refrigerated temperatures, aging and decay are retarded, resulting in longer life. As the potential life is used up in storage, the stored produce cannot stay for longer period after removal as freshly harvested produce. In some cases in post storage period, the produce has to be ripened properly. Removal of refrigerated stored produce to higher temperature should be done by a gradual warming to `avoid sweating' resulting in loss of quality.

Mixed commodities
Not all the produce can be stored together because of difference in their temperature requirements. But at times, it may be necessary to store different produce together provided the optimum low temperatures do not differ much. Cross transfers of odours, ethylene, and strongly scented produce should be avoided in mixed storage. Based on the compatibility of produce, without any deleterious effect it can be stored.

Cold chain
This involves the “chain” which starts from the field and ends on the consumer’s table, involving Precooling, refrigerated transport, low temperature (refrigerated) storage and distribution i.e. transport to the wholesalers, retailers to the consumers, under refrigerator condition and storage in home refrigeration until consumed.

The harvested produce has to be graded either for export or local trade in nearby packing houses, packed in containers to be precooled to the storage temperature and then transported in refrigerated trucks to the cold storage for long term storage or to the wholesale market in reefer containers. The wholesale market should have the facility for the cold storage.

Once the produce is precooled after harvest, it should not be exposed to undesirable temperatures at any stage of storage and handling to maintain its harvest fresh quality till consumption. Cold stores form the most important element in the cold chain system though all steps in handling are equally important.

Cold chain linkage from farm to market
To preserve the freshness of the horticultural produce, it is essential to have refrigerated transport from farm to central cold storage, then to wholesale markets and distant markets, exports etc. This has to be disposed to retailers or the supermarkets with cold storage facilities. Wholesale canters must have cold storage facilities either individually or collectively. This type of cold chain linkage helps in introducing a systematic approach and result in reducing the wastage at farm level transport and storage. These cold storage centres can be put up in rural areas benefiting the rural sector. By ensuring proper cold chain linkages, the quality and freshness of the horticultural produce are maintained till the produce reaches the consumer.