ABSTRACT
For vegetables, postharvest handling is as critical as production practices. In fact, postharvest waste is often greater than production losses in developing countries. Fresh-market tomatoes are harvested red ripe, breaker, or mature green, depending on the desired color in the market. Proper packing protects tomatoes from bruises and blemishes while in transit to consumers or factories. In developing countries, tomatoes are sometimes hauled to a shed where severely cracked, worm-damaged, or poor color fruits are culled before delivery to the factories. Cooling extends the storage life of horticultural products by slowing physiological changes. Large and good quality tomatoes are sent to the big cities for distribution to retail stores; the rest go to nearby retail markets. In minor production areas, it is often not worthwhile for producers to transport their tomatoes to retailers or wholesale markets. Tomatoes exported to Japan or the United States, however, must meet strict packaging and labeling standards.
