Showcase

Fruit or vegetable postharvest value chain assessment method

Method to make a technical assessment of an existing value chain for postharvest performance and provide recommendations for optimisation.

The insights generated by means of this method will indicate where there are information gaps in relation to food loss including, for example, the estimated percentage of losses and their causes. It is therefore a starting point for designing loss reducing interventions for postharvest optimisation.

What type of insights does the methodology generate?

Efficiency of current postharvest handling
Gaps in current handling that result in food loss and quality loss
Potential for improvement, loss reduction in specific areas of attention
How long, from the moment of harvest, does it take for produce to be conditioned to optimal temperature and RH?
How are all postharvest steps exactly performed? These include product handling and temperature, RH and time management
What is the quality of equipment/ materials and its suitability for the product?
What are the knowledge levels of workers and management staff?
What is the efficiency of the postharvest process?
What are the potential causes of food loss during the postharvest handling?
What are the potential causes of food loss due to peak harvest and lack of short/ midterm storage?
What is the company policy?
Insights into the gaps that have been identified and recommendations that can be implemented in intervention design aimed at food loss reduction and quality improvement

What type of question does the methodology help respond?

Where in the post-harvest chain is there room for improvement and optimisation to reduce FLW?

Link to publication

Assessment method: Fruit or vegetable postharvest value chain assessment method

Case example: application of the Fruit or vegetable postharvest value chain assessment method

Several farmers produce vegetables in the oasis. They supply to Collection Centres from where the vegetables are transported to a central packing facility with cold storage and Distribution Centre (DC). The vegetables are then supplied and distributed to organised retailers.

Part of the harvested produce loses quality during the postharvest handling process and becomes class 2 produce or is even considered loss as it cannot be sold on the market and is not suitable for human consumption.

Applying the fruit or vegetable postharvest value chain assessment method as described, revealed that there are several elements and handling practices that can be improved relatively easily to considerably shorten the handling process. By shortening the process, the fresh produce can reach the optimal storage conditions in a shorter period, reducing the time that the product has to deteriorate. The recommendations generated by the assessment method concern on the one hand the use of materials such as pallets and crates, and on the other hand organisational issues that allow the removal of unnecessary handling processes from the total postharvest handling chain. These types of interventions have the potential to significantly reduce the time between the actual harvest moment and the moment when fresh produce reaches the cooling facilities.

Do you have questions about using this tool?

We are happy to help. Please fill out the contact form and we will get back to you soon.