COMMON GROUND
- Quality of fresh fruits and vegetables is the result of a complex
interaction of genetic, production and handling factors. - Storage can only maintain, but not improve, product quality.
- Currently available quantitative measures of quality
characteristics are difficult to relate to crop production or
consumer preference.
DIVERGENCE
- The relative importance of genetic and cultural factors in
determining quality at harvest. - The feasibility of developing sufficient understanding of
preharvest factors to predictably improve product quality. - The ability to sufficiently understand consumer wants and needs
to develop appropriate quality targets.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
- A more comprehensive understanding of preharvest factors
influencing quality at harvest and subsequent changes during
postharvest handling. - Markers of qualty that can be evaluated during both preharvest
growth and postharvest storage. - Models that more accurately assess preharvest influences on
postharvest quality.