ABSTRACT
With increasing complexity of society, there is continuous demand for innovative and creative packaging from stakeholders (producers, processors, transporters, whole-sellers, retailers, and consumers) to guarantee food quality, safety, and traceability. Studies commissioned by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations estimates that about 45% of fresh fruits and vegetables constitute food loss in the postharvest chain (FAO, 2014). Despite globally recognized solutions in reducing food loss along the supply chain, postharvest loss remains a persistent challenge (Ahmad and Siddiqui, 2015). The reasons for these huge losses can be assigned to:
• lack of awareness about postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables;
• use of traditional packaging; • abusive use of packages by labor; • poor infrastructure for storage of horticulture produce; • absence of cold chain for perishable produce.
