Manuscript Topics

Postharvest loss in world countries is mainly caused by biological spoilage due to inappropriate postharvest management practices (inadequate transportation facilities and improper handling systems of storage or packaging as well as unfavorable climatic conditions of high temperatures and low relative humidity).  Significant economic and environmental losses result from the inability to retard ripening and associated excessive softening of fruits between harvest and marketing, while the loss of water from vegetables negatively affects their quality. Two core challenges of greening food value chains are enhancing food security (as well as safety) and at the same time providing for environmental conservation. This involves improving productivity and efficiency at all levels of food supply (including its management), of which an integral part is increasing the efficiency of postharvest systems.

There is an increased awareness of the role of preharvest abiotic stresses on the quality of horticultural products and their retention, although there is a need for more pertinent research and technological advances, especially under climatic change scenarios. Another impetus for such a focus on research should be that consumers are looking for the nutraceutical values of fruits and vegetables, that is, their constituents such as carotenoids, flavonoids and other polyphenols, phenolic acids, and other phytonutrients, which are even more susceptible to variations in temperature, relative humidity, concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.

Temperature management and dehydration control are the two most important strategies to extend shelf life and retain the quality of those fruits. The other supplements, such as controlled and modified atmospheres, 1-methylcyclopropene fumigation and heat treatments can further enhance their storability. On the other hand, due to growing concern about food safety and environmental issue, a major goal for postharvest handling of temperate or tropical and subtropical fruits should emphasize both effective preservation of the quality attributes and the use of appropriate technologies considered to be safe and low or no adverse environmental impact.

This Special Issue aims to cover recent advances in the maintenance of horticultural products quality. We are highly interested in and encourage papers that focus on new sustainable production practices, innovative use of technology, quality evaluation, sustainability, consumer attitude, and creative new product development in all steps of the production and distribution chain. Both original research and review articles are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
• The testing procedure for quality assurance of fruits and vegetables during postharvest storage and marketing
• Emerging technologies to enhance the quality of fruits and vegetables
• Physiology and technology of fresh-cut products and their specific influences on quality changes
• Non-destructive quality assessment methods
• Quality changes in fruit and vegetables during handling, processing, and cold storage
• Management and control of ethylene focused on the maintenance of fruits and vegetables quality
• Factors that can contribute to the loss of fruits and vegetables quality
• Pre-harvest treatments that can affect postharvest fruit and vegetables behavior
• Postharvest physiology, processing, and packaging to reduce losses and maintain fruit quality
• Marketing channels and consumer choice

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