ABSTRACT
Globally, massive quantities of food are lost during storage and throughout all the stages in the food supply chain. To minimize postharvest food losses, it is imperative to understand these losses in order for appropriate interventions to be made. This chapter examines some of these postharvest losses and discusses some mitigation strategies that should be implemented to reduce food losses along the supply chain. It examines the management of mechanical crop damage and temperature. It also looks at the role of precooling in temperature management of fresh produce and pretreatments in preventing postharvest losses. As fresh produce supply chains become more complex, innovation and creativity in fostering a systems approach for reducing postharvest losses throughout the supply chain become a necessity.
