Systems approach to postharvest handling.
Prussia S. E., Shewfelt R. L.
Author Affiliation: Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station, Griffin, GA 30223, USA.
: 43-71
Abstract : Postharvest handling systems for fruit and vegetables are outlined and the systems approach to postharvest studies is explained, regarding fruit and vegetable handling as a soft system in which the biological variability of the produce gives rise to difficulties in defining perceived problems. Applications of the systems approach to postharvest handling are presented, including mechanization of strawberry harvest operations for processing; distribution and marketing of fresh mangoes; orchard packing of fresh peaches; tomato loss simulation model; and soft systems for studying import companies. Implications of a systems approach are discussed with reference to latent damage, quality, economics and marketing, preharvest factors and soft systems methodologies.