An integrated approach for harvesting Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) for quality and functional compounds related to maturity stages

This study aims to link morphological and physico-chemical parameters with maturity stages of Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa), an edible southern African fruit. Harvesting via an integrative holistic approach is recommended for optimal quality and functional compounds. Fruits at dark green (M1), light green (M2), colour break or pink (M3), red (M4), dark red (M5)stages were harvested in 2016 and 2017 seasons. The principal component analysis illustrated the colour value a* (redness), fruit weight, size (length and width), sugars (glucose and fructose), ascorbic acid content, cyanidin derivatives (cyanidin-3-O-pyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-β-sambubioside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside), naringenin 4′-O-glucoside, and antioxidant property (FRAP)were higher in the following order of maturity stages M5 > M4 > M3 > M2 > M1. Quercetin 3-O-rhamnosyl galactoside and glucoside were higher in green (h° higher)firm M1 to M3 stages. A strong correlation exists between fruit weight, size, a* value and cyanidin derivatives or naringenin 4′-O-glucoside or ascorbic acid content or antioxidant activity. Thus, the M4 and M5 stages of Natal plum can serve as functional food

Impact of transportation, storage, and retail shelf conditions on lettuce quality and phytonutrients losses in the supply chain

This study was initiated to investigate the impact of transportation, storage, and retail shelf conditions on lettuce quality and phytonutrients losses in the urban fresh produce market supply chain. Reducing postharvest losses is a priority to reduce the loss of the dietary‐based phytonutrients and to improve the health of the consumers. Limited information is available in South Africa related to the postharvest and nutrition loss in the urban fresh produce market supply chain. In this study, we quantified the postharvest losses, changes in phytochemicals, and loss of minerals in lettuce at different points of Tshwane Fresh Produce Market supply chain. Lettuce supply to the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market from two different provinces, Gauteng and North West, were included in this study for comparison. Lettuce from the two provinces was collected from five different farms. The loss of fresh weight, changes in visual quality, phytonutrition properties, and economic loss of lettuce at the supply chain points: (a) transport; (b) storage; (c) and at the retail shelf was investigated. Five boxes of lettuce per supply chain point from Gauteng and North West provinces were randomly selected. The results indicated that the high temperature (25°C) and low RH (40%) at the retail shelf affected the weight, overall quality, and phytonutrition properties of lettuce. Cumulative economic loss was higher at the retail shelf due to the inferior quality of lettuce. The study identified where major quality and phytonutrition losses occur during marketing. The study demonstrated to identify the where major food and nutritional loss losses occur during marketing. This information will significantly benefit food sustainability by introducing technologies to manage food and nutrition losses