Open AccessEFFECT OF COOLING DELAY AT HARVEST ON BROCCOLI QUALITY DURING POSTHARVEST STORAGE
Author(s) -
BRENNAN P. S.,
SHEWFELT R. L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of food quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.568
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1745-4557
pISSN - 0146-9428
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4557.1989.tb00306.x
Subject(s) - postharvest , limiting , shelf life , horticulture , turgor pressure , environmental science , chemistry , food science , biology , engineering , mechanical engineering
Broccoli (cv ‘Green Duke’) was grown, harvested and cooled prior to simulated handling and storage. Delays of cooling were 0.5 and 3.0 h in one experiment and 0.5, 1 and 2 h in a subsequent experiment. Significant losses in market life of fresh broccoli were noted within the 3 h cooling delay period. Floret opening was the limiting visual quality characteristic in most treatments. Turgor was more limiting than color in all observed treatments. Using a systems approach a vertically‐integrated broccoli handler could project the effects of cooling delays on shelf‐life expectations within the prescribed handling system.