Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post Harvest Losses in Perishable Foods of the Developing World

  • Chapter
Post-Harvest Physiology and Crop Preservation

Part of the book series: Nato Advanced Study Institutes Series ((NSSA,volume 46))

Abstract

The majority of the papers presented to this Advanced Study Institute have been related primarily to situations relevant to the technologically advanced countries of Europe, North America and Australasia. This paper will do something to redress the balance, for it must be remembered that about a third of the world’s population lives within the Less Developed Countries (L.D.C.’s); that it is generally within the L.D.C.’s that living standards and nutritional standards are the lowest; while rates of population increase tend to be the greatest. Thus, it is within these countries, mostly within the tropics, that there is the most urgent need to increase food availability. This is not solely an ethical issue; whatever an individual’s, or a government’s, political or moral stance may be it must be accepted that a situation where such a large proportion of the world’s population are living under severely sub-optimal conditions is highly unsatisfactory, and is a destabilising force within the established world economic order.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. E. K. Akamine and T. Goo. Relationship between surface colour development and total soluble solids in papaya. Horticultural Sci.3 6:567 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. H. Booth. Post harvest deterioration of tropical root crops: losses and their control. Trop. Sci., 16:49 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. R. H. Booth and D. G. Coursey. Storage of cassava roots and related post harvest problems. In Cassava Processing and Storage, I.D.R.C. Monograph, I.D.R.C. -031e, Int. Develop. Res. Centre, Ottawa (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  4. R. H. Booth and F. J. Proctor. Considerations relevant to the storage of ware potatoes in the tropics. PANS, 18:409 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. C. Bourne. Proposed definition of post harvest loss. Proc. Natl. Food Loss Conf., Boise, Idaho, 129 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  6. A. L. Brody and S. Sacharow. Flexible packaging of foods. Crit. Rev. Fd. Technol., 1:71 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. O. J. Burden and P. J. Griffee. A simple machine for the appli- cation of fungicide to harvested green bananas. PANS, 20: 358 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. G. Burton. The Potato. Veenman and Zonen, Wageningen (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. G. Coursey. The magnitude and origins of storage losses in Nigerian yams. J. Sci. Fd. Agric., 12:574 (1961).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. D. G. Coursey. Los temperature injury in yams. J. Fd. Technol., 3:143 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. G. Coursey. Biodeteriorative losses in tropical horticultural produce. In Biodeterioration of Materials — 2, A.H. Walters and E.H. Hueck-van-derPlas, edits. Academic Press, London (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  12. D. G. Coursey. Traditional post harvest technology of tropical perishable staples. U.N.E.P. Industry and Environment Newsl., 4:10 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  13. D. G. Coursey and R. H. Booth. Post harvest losses in perish- able tropical produce. Proc. 6th Br. Insectic. Fungic. Conf., 3:673 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. G. Coursey and R. H. Booth. The post harvest pathology of perishable tropical produce. Rev. Pl. Pathol., 51:751 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  15. D. G. Coursey and R. H. Booth. Post harvest problems of non- grain staples. Acta Horticulturae, 53:23 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  16. D. G. Coursey and P. H. Haynes. Root crops and their potential as food in the tropics. Wld. Crops, 22:261 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  17. D. G. Coursey and F. J. Proctor. Towards the quantification of post harvest loss in horticultural produce. Acta Horticulturae, 49:55 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  18. J. W. Eckert. Post harvest disease of citrus fruits. OutlookAgric., 9:225 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. W. Eckert. (This volume.)

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. W. Eckert and N. F. Sommer. Control of diseases of fruits and vegetables by post harvest treatment. Ann. Rev. Phyto-pathol., 5:391 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. C. Fidler. Low temperature injury to fruits and vegetables. In Low Temperature Biology of Foods, J. Hawthorne and E. J. Rolfe edits. Pergamon, Oxford (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  22. J. C. Fidler and D. G. Coursey. Low temperature injury in tropical fruit. Proc. Conf. Trop. Subtrop. Fruits, London 1969. (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  23. E. H. Fisk edit. The Adaptation of Traditional Agriculture. Australian National University, Development Studies Centre, Monograph No. 11, A.N.U., Canberra (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States. 1978 F.A.O. Production Yearbook, Vol. 32, F.A.O./U.N., Rome (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States. Analysis of an F.A.O. Survey of Post Harvest Crop Losses in Developing Countries. AGPP: Misc/27, F.A.O., Rome (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/United Nations Environmental Programme. Food Loss Prevention in Perishable Crops. Report of the F.A.O./U.N.E.P. Expert Consultation on the Reduction of Food Losses in Perishables of Plant Origin, F.A.O., Rome, 1980 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  27. W. Grierson and F. W. Hayward. Decay control for citrus fruits using 2-aminobutane vapour. Proc. Trop. Reg. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 13:124 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  28. D. W. Hall. Food storage in the developing countries. Trop. Sci., 11:298 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  29. D. W. Hall. Too much waste. Rural Life, 15:16 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  30. J. M. Harvey. Reduction of losses in fresh market fruits and vegetables. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol., 16:321 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. J. S. Ingram and J.R.O. Humphries. Cassava storage — a review Trop. Sci., 14:131 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. International Institute of Refrigeration. The carriage of refrigerated cargoes. Annex to Bull. I.I.F., Paris(1973).

    Google Scholar 

  33. A. A. Kader, L. L. Morris and M. Cantwell. Post harvest hand- ling and physiology of horticultural crops — a list of selected references. Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California. Vegetable Crops Series, 169, 2nd revision (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  34. S. Lakshminarayana, A.R. Vijayendra Rao, N.V.N. Moorthy, B. Anandaswamy, V.B. Dalai, P. Narasimham and H. Subramanyam. Studies on the rail shipment of mango. J. Fd. Sci. Tech., 8:123 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  35. F. S. Léonce. The use of gibberellins A4–A7 for the improve-ment of crown rot control in bananas. Proc. Acorbat Conf., Martinique (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  36. J. M. Lutz and R. E. Hardenburg. The commercial storage of fruits, vegetables and florist and nursery stocks. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Handbook No. 66, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.(1968).

    Google Scholar 

  37. J. M. Lyons. Chilling injury in plants. Ann. Rev. PlantPhysiol., 24:445 (1973)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. M. Madalgatti Rao. Problems and prospects of post harvest handling of grapes in India. Punjab Horticultural J., 9:1 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  39. J. Marriott. Bananas — physiology and biochemistry of storage and ripening for optimum quality. Crit. Rev. Fd. Sci. Nutr., 13:41 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Marriott and F.J. Proctor. Transportation and conservation of tropical fruits. Outlook Agric., 9:233 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  41. National Academy of Sciences. Post harvest food losses indeveloping countries. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  42. B. Nestel and R. Maclntyre edits. Chronic cassava toxicity, I.D.R.C. -010e, Int. Develop. Res. Centre, Ottawa (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  43. J. H. New, F. J. Proctor and V. J. Hewitt. Packaging of horticultural produce for export. Trop. Sci., 20: 21 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  44. S. New, J. Baldry, J. Marriott and E. A. Dixon. Fruit quality factors affecting selection of banana clones. Acta Horticulturae, 57: 205 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  45. R. A. Noon and R. H. Booth. Nature of post harvest deterioration of cassava roots. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc, 69: 287(1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Catalogue of types and sizes of wooden packaging for fruits and vegetables used in Europe. Report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development No. 372. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  47. E. B. Pantastico. Post Harvest Physiology, Handling and Util-isation of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits and Vegetables. AVI Publishing Co. Inc., Westport, Connecticut (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  48. H.A.B. Parpia. Post harvest losses — impact of their prevention on food supplies, nutrition and development. Proc. Symp. Nutr. Agric. Develop. Tropics, Guatamala, 1974, N.S. Scrimshaw and M. Behar edits. Plenum Press, New York (.1976).

    Google Scholar 

  49. H.C. Passam. Dormancy in yams in relation to storage. In I.F.S. Provisional Report No. 3, Yams, Buea, Cameroun, 1978. International Foundation for Science, Stockholm (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  50. H.C. Passam and G. Blunden (in press). Experiments on the storage of limes at tropical ambient temperatures. Trop. Agri., Trin.

    Google Scholar 

  51. H. C. Passam, S. J. Read and J. E. Rickard. Wound repair in yam tubers: the dependence of storage procedures on the nature of the wound and its repair. Trop. Sci., 18:1 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  52. H. C. Passam, S. J. Read and J. E. Rickard. The respiration of yam tubers and its contribution to storage losses. Trop. Agrie, Trin., 55:207 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  53. W. T. Pentzer. Historical perspective of food losses. ProcNatl. Food Loss Conf., Boise, Idaho (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Potato Marketing Board. Unpublished report (n.d.).

    Google Scholar 

  55. F. J. Proctor. Exporting horticultural produce from the tropics. Wld. Crops, 28:198 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  56. F. J. Proctor, J. P. Goodliffe and D. G. Coursey. Post harvest losses of vegetables and their control in the tropics. In Vegetable Productivity, C.R.W. Spelding edit. Macmillan, London (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  57. J. Rawnsley. Crop Storage: Technical Report No. 2. Food Research and Development Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Accra, Ghana. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  58. J. E. Rickard and D. G. Coursey. The value of shading perish- able produce after harvest. Approp. Technol., 6: 18 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  59. J. E. Rickard, O. J. Burden and D. G. Coursey. Studies on the insolation of tropical horticultural produce. Acta. Horticulturae, 84:115 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  60. J. E. Rickard, J. Marriott and P. B. Gahan. Occlusions in cassava xylem vessels associated with vascular discolouration. Ann. Bot., 43:523 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  61. G. K. Saxena, L. H. Halsey, D. D. Gull and N. Persuad. Evalua- tion of carrot and onion cultivars for commercial production in Guyana. Scientia Horticulturae, 2:257 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. K. J. Scott, W. B. McGlasson and E. A. Roberts. Potassium permanganate as an ethylene absorbent in polythene bags to delay ripening of bananas during storage. Aust. J. Expt. Agric. Anim. Husb., 10:237 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. L. G. Smith. Alpha-naphthalene acetic acid and the shelf-life of pineapples. Paper presented at the XXth International Horticultural Congress, Sydney, Australia (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  64. A. K. Thompson. Transport, handling and storage of fruit and vegetables in the West Indies. Proc Seminar/Workshop on Hort. Dev. in the Caribbean, Maturin, Venezuela, 11:170 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  65. A. K. Thompson, B. O. Been and C. Perkins. Nematodes in stored yams. Expl. Agric., 9:281 (1973)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. A. K. Thompson, R. H. Booth and F. J. Proctor. Onion storage in the tropics. Trop. Sci., 14:19 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  67. E. C. Tigchelaar, W.B. McGlasson and R.W. Buescher. Genetic regulation of tomato fruit ripening. Horticultural Sci., 13: 508 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. H. D. Tindall and F. J. Proctor. Loss prevention in horticultural crops in the tropics. Prog. Fd. Nutr. Sci., 4:25 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. R. G. Tomkins. The microbiological problems in the preserva- tion of fresh fruit and vegetables. J. Sci. Fd. Agric., 2: 381 (1951)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Wood as a Packaging Material in the Developing Countries. ID/72. United Nations, New York (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  71. A. J. Vlitos (this volume).

    Google Scholar 

  72. C. A. de Vries, J.D. Ferweda and M. Flach. Choice of food crops in relation to actual and potential production in the tropics. Neth. J. Agric. Sci., 15:241 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Products Institute, 56/62 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LU, England

    D. G. Coursey

Authors
  1. D. G. Coursey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Late of Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

    Morris Lieberman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Coursey, D.G. (1983). Post Harvest Losses in Perishable Foods of the Developing World. In: Lieberman, M. (eds) Post-Harvest Physiology and Crop Preservation. Nato Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 46. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0094-7_23

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0094-7_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0096-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-0094-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation