Postharvest losses represent one of the greatest inefficiencies in the global fruit and vegetable supply chain. A significant share of fresh produce is lost after harvest due to physiological causes (dehydration, chilling injury), pathological causes (fungi and bacteria), and physical damage (impacts and mechanical injuries). In many cases, these causes are interrelated: a mechanical injury can trigger decay during transport.
The figures are striking:
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In developing countries, 20–40% of fresh produce is lost.
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In developed countries, losses range between 10–15%, depending on the crop.
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In the European Union alone, postharvest fruit losses represent €4 billion in lost value.
These losses push many producers to harvest fruit green or immature to avoid damage during transit. The result is poor quality at the point of sale, fruit with little flavor, and dissatisfied consumers.
A Global Opportunity: Postharvest Technology for Quality Fruit
Chemical postharvest solutions can reduce decay, but their use is highly restricted in some markets—especially in Europe—due to authorization limitations, food safety requirements, and waste management issues in packing facilities.
This creates a multi-billion-euro business opportunity for technologies that can ensure:
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Effective protection during transport without the development of decay
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Compliance with food safety standards
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Delivery of ready-to-eat fruit with proper maturity and good visual quality
Such solutions require an integrated “from seed to supermarket” approach, as many preharvest factors strongly influence postharvest behavior. This approach is a core part of the improvement methodology applied in our consulting services.
An effective technology portfolio would include:
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Protective postharvest products
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Coatings and application systems
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New packaging materials and designs
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Ripening and degreening technologies
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Advanced cold storage systems
The Postharvest Management Challenge: Massive Global Losses
Postharvest losses affect the entire world, not only developing countries. Some key figures include:
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10–20% of grain is lost annually due to poor storage (ADM, 2010).
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In Southeast Asia, postharvest rice losses range from 10–37%.
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In Africa, cereal losses range between 11–18%, depending on the crop.
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Postharvest potato losses in Asia reach 23–27%.
For fruits and vegetables—far more perishable products—the figures are even more severe:
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Tomatoes in Egypt: 27–43% losses
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Vegetables in Southeast Asia: 13–20%
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Mangoes in tropical countries: 15–70%, depending on the season
In India and China:
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Citrus and mango: 15–25%
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Cabbage: 20–25%
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Tomato: 20–35%
In developed countries, total losses—from the field to retail storage—reach 12%, and can rise to 20% in supermarkets and foodservice.
In addition, fruit that degrades but is not discarded loses value when downgraded from Category I to Category II, reducing revenues by an additional 10–20%.
Despite its scale, this problem has received limited attention: 95% of agricultural research funding is still allocated to production, while only 5% is devoted to postharvest research (UC Davis, 2010).
Improving Quality: Flavor, Color, and Shelf Life
One of the most common consumer complaints is poor fruit quality at retail: lack of flavor, excessive firmness, mealy texture, insufficient color, or advanced senescence.
To reduce losses, producers increasingly harvest fruit at an immature stage. While this limits transit damage, it destroys the eating experience.
The outcome is flavorless fruit, dissatisfied consumers, and declining sales.
Ripening rooms are widely used for bananas, but much less so for mangoes, avocados, or stone fruit. In citrus, degreening is used to remove chlorophyll and reveal orange coloration.
When properly designed, ripening systems can significantly improve quality:
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Better flavor
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Improved color
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Greater juiciness
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Higher end-consumer satisfaction
Some of these processes can be seen in real-world projects featured in our case studies.
Food Safety and Environmental Sustainability
Postharvest products represent a very small share of total agricultural inputs, yet they are the most visible and carry the highest regulatory risk.
Errors in concentration, coverage, or equipment calibration can lead to excessive residues—something European retailers reject even when legal MRLs are not exceeded.
There is also an environmental challenge: solutions applied through “shower” or “cascade” systems must be disposed of at the end of the day.
Zero-spillage application technologies already exist—such as those developed in Spain—but their adoption remains limited.
Conclusion: A Strategic Opportunity for the Sector
The combination of:
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Significant postharvest losses
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Insufficient quality at the retail level
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Growing concerns about food safety
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The environmental impact of waste
highlights a clear business opportunity in postharvest technologies that can reduce losses, improve quality, and increase profitability across the fruit and vegetable supply chain.
If you would like to explore how to reduce losses, improve processes, and optimize quality within your supply chain, you can contact our team directly through the contact page.
FruitProfits is a consulting company specialized in postharvest technology, helping clients worldwide reduce costs, minimize losses, and improve quality throughout the value chain.