Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Prevention of mechanical damage

How damage occur to the produce?

Four different causes of mechanical injury affect the produce are vibration (transportation-light rubbing), impact (dropping), compression (over stacking) and cut (sharp edges, punctures- nails etc.).
Compression resistant produce are water melon, pumpkin, onion, carrot and potato these vegetables are also called as ‘hard vegetables’.

Important practical requirement for packaging are to avoid under filing (vibration injury) and overfilling (compression and impact bruising). Individual items should be held firmly, but not too tightly, within the package.