Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
been given to both orchard pickers and packinghouse workers. As fruit is packed, the packer
prints a label that includes a barcode, grower, count, date and time, pack house and variety
details, and packer. This enables fruit to be traced back to the orchard and row from which
it was harvested and to know all the steps it took along the way to the consumer.
In the area of produce quality, packinghouses have units of quality assessment, where
samples of the produce entering the packinghouse as well as along the packing line are
examined for quality. Recent innovations are instruments that can determine various aspects
of quality nondestructively. On many packinghouse lines, currently fruit is automatically
graded for color and blemishes by online cameras that photograph the fruit and send it to the
proper sorting line. This is combined with sorting for weight or size by automatic weighing
cups that send different sizes to different lines. Newer technologies include near-infrared
spectrometers that can examine internal quality, particularly soluble solids or sugars, as
well as acoustic instruments that can measure firmness. These are now being supplied in
new packinghouse lines, and in addition, hand-held instruments are in development for use
in orchards to determine picking date.
Biotechnological approaches are also useful for enhancing the shelf life and quality
of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, but the public acceptance of this technology is limited.
Several information sites describing the optimal storage procedures have also increased the
importance and understanding of postharvest storage (e.g., Sydney Postharvest Laboratory,
www.postharvest.com.au/; www.usda.org).
1.6 Future prospects
Demographic and socioeconomic factors are the major influencing trends that affect fruit
and vegetable consumption in the United States (Guthrie et al., 2005). Rising income and
education levels as well as increasing average age of the population may also influence
this trend. In the United States, an increase in Hispanic population is predicted to increase
the consumption of tomato and its products. By the year 2020, per capita intake of pota-
toes and french fries is expected to drop by 8-9%. The consumption of lettuce (
+
5.1%),
tomatoes (
3.6%) is expected to increase during the same
period. Among fruits, the consumption of grapes (
+
1.3%), and other vegetables (
+
+
5.1%), apples (
+
7.8%), citrus fruits
(
7%) is anticipated to increase by the year 2020. However, an
increased tendency to eat outside the home may tend to reduce the fruit intake marginally,
as such a habit tends to promote the intake of lettuce and potato products marginally. In
Canada, the United States, and Europe, a large increase in Asian population is anticipated
to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables native to Asia. Another important
trend in fruit and vegetable production is organic farming. It is generally believed that
fruits and vegetables grown organically are more nutritious and the production of organic
fruits and vegetables is increasing yearly. Farmers' markets and pick-your-own operations
have increased the diversity of fruit and vegetable production and marketing. Sustainable
and environment-friendly production methods are increasingly being applied in most coun-
tries. Addition of fruit components to processed food (cereals, yogurt, etc.) has become
a common trend in the processing industry. Thus, several socioeconomic factors are driv-
ing the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption in a positive direction, and this
in turn will influence the patterns of production, storage, and distribution of fruits and
vegetables.
+
7.4%), and other fruits (
+
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