Abstract
The short shelf life and high biological variability of horticultural products are responsible for the large product waste that the food industry has in this field of activity. The food cold chain is the main factor responsible of minimizing those wastes and improving the sustainability of this trade. This chapter makes an introduction to the relevance of the cold chain in horticultural products in terms of product quality and safety, quality frameworks, and sustainability; provides a review of the main cooling methods employed in the area; and discusses the effect that the cold chain has on horticultural products and the associated technologies (e.g., modified atmosphere products and temperature monitoring).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Decontamination of Fresh and Minimally Processed Produce |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Pages | 269-484 |
| Number of pages | 216 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780813823843 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2012 |
Keywords
- Assessment
- Cold chain
- Postharvest