Estimates and causes of fresh fruit post-harvest losses in the Chapadinha Microregion, Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

Fruit growing contributes to Brazilian socioeconomic growth, both as a source of food for the
 population and in the generation of employment and income. However, the production chain incurs significant
 negative impacts, mainly due to post-harvest losses. The objective of the current study was to estimate the
 post-harvest losses of fruits, occurring in the retail markets of Anapurus, Belágua, Mata Roma, São Benedito
 do Rio Preto and Urbano Santos (Maranhão State). The study was carried out with visits to 45 commercial
 establishments, and the deployment of a questionnaire regarding post-harvest losses of 12 fruits. It is
 concluded that, in decreasing order, losses were: avocado (11.76 ± 0.09%) > papaya (11.65% ± 0.02) >
 banana (10.82 ± 1.75%) > grape (10.08 ± 0.06%) > passion fruit (9.28 ± 0.04%) > pineapple (8.62 ± 0.04%)
 > watermelon (8.48 ± 0.05%) > mango (8.00 ± 0.18%) > orange (7.12 ± 0.10%) > apple (6.68 ± 0.07%) > pear
 (6.52 ± 0.03%) > melon (4.32 ± 0.01%). Physiological disorders were the main cause of losses, with estimated
 losses being up to 10.62%. It is suggested that losses could be reduced with: better hygiene in commercial
 environments, effective planning of the quantities offered, and the adoption of low cost technologies for the
 conservation and refrigeration of temperate fruits. Some public initiatives, such as the increase in availability of
 training courses, improvement of roads in the rural areas of the Chapadinha Microregion, and encouragement
 of the expansion of fruit growing in Maranhão, may lead to improvements, with direct benefits to society in
 general.

Postharvest Losses of Fruits and Vegetables Marketed in Seven Municipalities of the East Mesorregion, Maranhão, Brazil

“…According to Godoy et al (2010), papaya is highly perishable in the postharvest phase and has higher loss rates among tropical fruit, usually due to microbiological contamination, physiological disorders, mechanical damage, excessive ripening, improper handling and loss of structural integrity. In the same way, Silva et al (2018) affirmed, physiological disorders in papaya may be related to non-observance of the ideal harvesting point, which may influence early discard due to excessive ripening. Silva et al (2018) found 10.62% of losses due to physiological disorders, for a total of 11.64% of postharvest losses, at the markets in five municipalities of the Chapadinha Microregion.…”

“…In the same way, Silva et al (2018) affirmed, physiological disorders in papaya may be related to non-observance of the ideal harvesting point, which may influence early discard due to excessive ripening. Silva et al (2018) found 10.62% of losses due to physiological disorders, for a total of 11.64% of postharvest losses, at the markets in five municipalities of the Chapadinha Microregion. These results were proportional to those obtained in the present study, as 93.54% of the relative losses originated from physiological causes.…”

“…Surveys on postharvest losses and the characterization of the commercialization scenario in the fruit and vegetables retail markets in Maranhã o are scarce. Although they could assist in the training of traders regarding the adoption of efficient postharvest and management practices, as well as alarming entrepreneurs or the public sector about the need for investments in the fruit and vegetable sector in this state (Silva et al, 2018). scenario of marketing of produce in the retail market of seven municipalities in the eastern Maranhense mesoregion.…”

Use of Packaging for 'Hawaii' Papaya Conservation, Sold at CEASA of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

“…Several surveys were carried out in different microregions in the state of Maranhã o by Ferreira (2019), Figueirinha (2019) and Silva et al (2018), among 2017 and 2019, highlight papaya as one of the fruits with the highest estimates of postharvest losses, whose results ranged from 11.64 to 17.90%. Among the causal factors, physiological disorders were the most cited, corroborating with results found by Silva et al (2018) who showed in their studies the valor of up to 91.24% of total losses. According to Dias et al (2011) andPimentel et al (2011), papaya has climacteric respiration, that is, ethylene peak and respiration after harvest.…”

Aspectos da comercialização e perdas pós-colheita de beterraba em diferentes segmentos varejistas

“…Tomm et al (2018),Silva et al (2018) e, a qualidade diverge. De acordo com estes autores, em torno de 90% dos hortifrútis comercializados em Chapadinha (MA) são oriundos do Ceará.…”