engleski

Sustainable fresh produce production

The fresh produce sector is an exciting and fast moving growth area of the food industry. Market demand for fresh produce has undergone an important rise during the last few decades as a result of changes in consumer attitudes, busy lifestyles, increasing purchasing power, and consumer awareness of the beneficial health effects of fresh produces. That is also due to geographical and climatic conditions, intensified international trade, improved storage and faster transportation. Fresh produces provide essential compounds to human diet vital for health and well-being. Besides, consumers are putting an increased emphasis on convenience (ready-to-eat and/or ready-to-use) as well as on a fresh-like produce quality while containing only natural ingredients. Consumers have also become more critical of the use of synthetic additives to preserve food or enhance properties such as colour, flavour, etc. With the definite consumer swing toward fresh produce (such as ready-to-use fresh fruits and vegetables) the relative importance of the sector is likely to increase further. The food service industry, also, wants ready available produces that are minimally processed, and at the same time have fresh-like quality. Besides, minimally processing reduces labour and liability, increases consistency of the produce, limits cooling space, etc. Fresh-like fruits and vegetables are processed with a combination of procedures and could undergo different deterioration processes, which can shorten their shelf life. Their shelf life can depend on variety, stage of ripeness at processing and storage conditions. Although preparation and selling of fresh produce can be a profitable and satisfying business, only interdisciplinary scientific principles, covering all aspects of the fresh produce supply chain, including commercial production systems, post harvest technology, food safety, environmental issues, retail markets, and consumer behaviour, can set the fresh produce economy on a path of sustained economic growth.

fresh produce; minimally processing; food safety

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