Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

FEATURES

Postharvest Tips
by (February 10, 2005)
Did you know that the quality of broccoli packed on-farm in styrofor and shipped to Manila through the refrigerated van can be preserved when pre-cooled with top icing? This is the result of a BPRE study conducted by Dr. Alex Gibe. Quality of broccoli can be assured even at prolonged storage of at least one week. Even when transported in ambient conditions, top icing maintains the quality of broccoli.

If you are one of those who pack lettuce in big cartoon boxes while in transport to the market, think again. Carton boxes absorb moisture. During transit, these boxes bend causing damage on the lettuce.

The BPRE recommends wooden or plastic packaging materials with sufficient ventilation. This facilitates faster cooling of vegetables. Plastic crates are best for systematic stacking. They allow sturdy stacking and reduce space requirements. Wooden crates are also acceptable as long as vegetables are individually wrapped or inside sidings are lined with smooth sheets..

Philippine bananas, Buñgulan variety, grown by small-scale farmers in the Philippines have been given preferential treatment in the Japanese market. There is only one problem, postharvest diseases of bananas make the fruit difficult to handle and unappealing to consumers. Based on the BPRE study conducted by Dr. D. Alvindia, cultural management has much to play in producing high quality bananas for export. The following are some tips:

> General sanitation is a must. Remove decaying transition leaves, bracts and collapsed foliage leaves to reduce fungal infection .
> Harvest bananas only upon maturity. Handle carefully harvested bananas using cushion materials to avoid bruises and scars. Perforated polyethylene film can be used instead of newspapers as cushion materials to avoid ''box burn''.

> During washing of bananas, change frequently washing water.

> Packing materials should be sturdy to withstand subsequent handling, stacking and wetting during ripening. Do not pack tightly.

> Rapid cooling down to 13°C is highly recommended for export quality bananas.