IMPROVING QUALITY AND REDUCING LOSSES IN SPECIALTY FRUIT CROPS THROUGH STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES

Fresh blueberries are harvested and then transported to the consumer. In this process, diseased fruit can develop and cause many problems that result in crop loss (shrinkage,) as well as consumer rejection. Our research targets the in-field strategies for disease control andpost-harvest handling to reduce these types of losses. Proper use of fungicides, optimal storage temperatures, and methods for pathogen and quality evaluation will be developed under this project. Also, as new cultivars are developed, the storage characteristics will be evaluated for placement in different markets and methods for cultivar evaluation are under development. We will also evaluate harvest methods and post harvest treatments to help reduce shrinkage in fresh cranberries brought to market. The objective is to increase availability of fresh cranberry fruit beyond Thanksgiving and Christmas. Blueberry and cranberry producers will benefit from improved methodologies for reducing postharvest loss and consumers will receive higher quality andmore consistent fruit supplies.