Quality of Fresh‐Market Peaches Within the Postharvest Handling System

Abstract

Peaches (cv 'Redglobe') were sampled at six points in the postharvest handling system to determine the effects of physiological maturity at harvest and identify the step(s) where alternate handling techniques would lead to improved quality at point of purchase. Samples were evaluated for maturity, color, firmness, soluble solids, and total acidity. Harvest maturity and temperature management were identified as the most critical factors in the postharvest system. Firmness was the most limiting quality attribute. Improvement of peach quality can be achieved within the existing handling system by strict control of harvest maturiv and allowing peaches to ripen at ambient temperatures (18-24°C) at the retail outlet or in the home just prior to consumption.

Quality of Minimally Processed Fruits and Vegetables

“…This approach frequently leads to a sacrifice of traits critical to consumer perception such as flavor and mouthfeel for more visible characteristics such as appearance and firmness-to-the-touch. Current handling practices for peaches (Shewfelt et al 1987a) and tomatoes (Shewfelt et al 1987c) are largely responsible for poor flavor quality in the finished product.…”

“…1978;Hood et af. 1981;Shewfelt et al 1987a), pimiento peppers (Shewfelt et al 1985a) and tomatoes (Allen and O'Brien 1977;Leonard et al 1977;Mongelli 1980;Apolinario ef al. 1984;Jordan et af.…”

PEACH TEXTURE DURING RIPENING AFTER EXTENDED STORAGE1

“…The quality of peaches available at the market is dependent on their harvested condition and subsequent handling and storage practices. The effect of peach maturity at harvest on the changes in quality of fruit was determined (Shewfelt et al 1987a) at various points in the postharvest handling system. Peaches harvested at maturity level 1 remained firm through handling and marketing, but peaches at maturity levels 2 and 3 showed evidence of softening by the time they reached the retail outlet.…”

Mechanical Damage During Fruit Post-Harvest Handling: Technical and Physiological Implications

“…There are some studies dealing with the evaluation of mechanical damage during harvest, handling, and transport of strawberry (Camarena and Reyes, 1995), peach (Shewfelt et al, 1987), lemon (Miller, 1987), and apple (Brown et al, 1993). For these fruits, the main operations are summarised in Figure 3.…”

“…This systems approach allows for the assessment of the effect of each individual handling step on the final product quality and provides the basis for establishing general coordination and quality control among all the individual operations (Shewfelt et al, 1987).…”