Post-harvest + Quality Assurance By Patrick ULLOA

Post-harvest + Quality Assurance = Effective Quality Management

Relay Race Video

Effective Quality Management It is a team effort The end result depends on the performance of each team member Your team is as good as your weakest link. Both, speed and correct technique are important If we are not careful we can fall flat on our face

Quality Management in Detail Able to measure Appropriate corrective action

Quality Management Initiatives 1.Maintaining quality within acceptable limits 2.Time and temperature monitoring 3.Non-visual quality assessments

1. Acceptable Limits Rejection Zone Good fruit into 2nds Zone

Rule of Thumb (Field) 0% 2% 5%

2. Time and Temperature

Time-Temperature Tracker

Transport temperature tracking

3. Non-visual quality assessments

The percentage of Citric Acid in Highbush Blueberries is an indicator of: taste level of maturity fruit resistance against moulds and bacteria Storage life The ratio of Sugar/ Acidity is a global indicator of POST-HARVEST FRUIT QUALITY. PARAMETERSBIBLIOGRAPHY pH 2.25 – 4.25 Soluble Solids % (Brix) Titratable Acidity 0.3 – 1.4 % Ratio SS/TA 10 – 33 < 18 Good keeping quality 18 – 32 Medium keeping quality > 32 Low keeping quality ABCDEFG

The Future Efficiency Effectiveness Complexity Science Technology (The Internet of Things)