Warmer temperatures during the supply chain of tomatoes can produce tastier, more nutritious fruits, that last for longer and require less energy

Supermarkets aim to produce good value, ripe and aesthetically pleasing produce to meet high levels of consumer demand. It is important that this is done with low ecological damage in terms of waste and energy expenditure, both during the supply chain and after purchase. Low temperatures are extensively used during transport and storage of fruit aiming to optimise shelf life, despite known risks of detrimental effects on fruit quality and nutritional value. This study investigated the effect of supply chain temperatures currently used by supermarkets within the UK onmaintaining tomato quality and shelf life, and then also investigated the effects of storage temperatures post sale, aiming to find the optimum temperature/s for postharvest storage of tomatoes that will increase quality and at least maintain shelf life. To investigate this, freshly harvested tomatoes were kept at 3 different temperatures for 7 days: Room temperature (23?C), an intermediate temperature of 15?C, or sent through usual supply chain ( 12?C). After 7 days tomatoes were then kept at either room temperature (as on a kitchen shelf), or kept cold at 5?C (as in a fridge), to represent storage at home by the consumer. Tomato quality was assessed in terms of taste, nutritional value and firmness. Tomatoes were also observed to investigate whether storage temperatures have an effect on shelf life.The results demonstrate changes in quality between tomatoes from different temperature treatments and suggest that the current temperatures used during the supply chain are not optimal, and that warmer temperatures can produce tastier, more nutritious tomatoes that last for longer and require less energy to transport and store. SourcesIMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCT QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF TOMATO BY CHANGING TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS DURING TRANSPORT AND STORAGEDew, R1, Brandt, K1, Seal, CJ1Rosemary.dew@ncl.ac.uk1Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United KingdomIHC 2014, International Horticulture Congress, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, http://www.ihc2014.org/Picture by www.ulmapackaging.comKey wordsPoscosecha?? ?postcosecha?? ?postharvest?? ?na-oes?? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ?post-r?colte?? ????? ?? ??????????? ??? ?na-oogst?? ?post-raccolta?? ?Obr?bka po?? ?p?s-colheita?? ????????????????? ?hasat sonras??? ??? ?Ernte?? ????????????????? ????? ????????????? ?postcollita?? ?poskliz?ov頠 ????? ??? ??? ??? ?nakon branja?? ?pozberov頠 ??? ?obdelovanje zemlje po?? ?post-colleita?? ?????? ??????? ?pascapanen?? ??il?onn postharvest?? ??????? ?p?c ra?as?? ?derliaus apdirbimas po?? ?lepas tuai?? ??? ?? ???????? ?post-recoltare?? ??????? ??????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?sau thu ho?ch?? ?????????????????? ?zangemva kwenkathi yokuvuna?? ??? ?Tomate?? ??? ?tomato?? ?tamatie?? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?tomaat?? ?pomodoro?? ?pomidor?? ??? ?????????? ?domates?? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?