Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I. Choose a commodity
Tomatoes are an essential part of our diets and are widely consumed globally.
Post-harvest management is an important step in ensuring the quality of tomatoes
and their safe consumption. Post-harvest operations refer to all activities that take
place after harvesting and includes sorting, grading, packaging, storage, transport,
and marketing (Harsh et al., 2018). Proper post-harvest management practices
help to maintain the quality of the produce, ensure food safety, and improve
market access and value (Debrah et al., 2016). This article will discuss the
importance of post-harvest operations for tomatoes, discuss current practices, and
suggest best practices.
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are one of the most important crops in the
Philippines. According to a study published in the Philippine Journal of Crop
Science, tomato production in the Philippines has been increasing steadily since
the 1980s and is now among the top 10 vegetable crops in the country,
contributing greatly to the livelihood of Filipino farmers (Aquino, et al., 2018).
Tomatoes are grown in various parts of the Philippines, including the rainfed
lowlands, irrigated plains, and upland areas, making them a versatile crop suitable
for various agro-ecologies. Tomatoes are also highly nutritious, containing a wide
array of vitamins and minerals, making them an essential part of a balanced diet
(Ekpu, et al., 2018).
III. By products
1. Tomato Juice: Tomato juice is a liquid made from tomatoes that has been
strained to remove the seeds and skin. It is usually made by pressing and
blending fresh tomatoes, but canned tomato juice is also widely available.
3. Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce is a liquid made from tomatoes that has been
cooked and seasoned with herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It is typically
used as a base for pasta sauces, pizza sauces, and other dishes.
4. Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have been dried in
the sun for several days or weeks until most of their moisture is removed.
They are often used as a seasoning or garnish and are available in many forms,
such as strips, slices, and powder.
2. Use of edible coatings: Edible coating technology can be used to extend the shelf
life of tomatoes by reducing water loss and controlling the respiration rate of tomatoes
(Ioannou et al., 2013).
Bari, M.A., Rahman, M.M., Hossain, M.A., 2018. Physiological and biochemical changes of
tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits during storage. Bangladesh J. Bot. 47, 1067–
1071.
Hussain, F., Anjum, S., Rehman, S., 2017. Postharvest losses of tomato and their control.
Rice, E.W., Schaffer, B., 2019. Postharvest physiology and handling of fresh tomatoes.
Salam, M.A., Hossain, M.A., Islam, S., 2018. Postharvest losses and microbial spoilage of
Kumar, A., Singh, S., Yadav, D., & Negi, S. (2018). Post-harvest losses of tomato and their
10(3), 647-653.
Ioannou, I.A., Kontominas, M.G., & Kiosseoglou, V. (2013). Edible coating technology:
Kabata-Pendias, A. (2010). Trace elements in soils and plants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Kumar, S., Shikha, A., & Prakash, O. (2008). Effect of postharvest treatments on shelf life
Kumar, S., Shikha, A., & Prakash, O. (2010). Postharvest treatments and storage of tomato
(Lycopersicon esculentum) for food security and poverty alleviation in West African
Harsh, P.K., Rana, P., & Tiwari, G. (2018). Post-harvest management of tomato
23(4), 472-477.
Aquino, P. S., Navarrete, R. O., & Lopez, C. R. (2018). Tomato Production in the
Ekpu, V., Oladipupo, O. M., & Oke, D. T. (2018). Nutritive Values of Tomato (Solanum