Postharvest handling and storage strategies for chilli pepper quality preservation

The postharvest stage plays a critical role in preserving the quality, nutritional value, and commercial competitiveness of chilli peppers and their derived products. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the strategies and technologies involved in postharvest handling, including harvesting practices, sorting, storage, packaging, and transportation.

The discussion begins by emphasizing the importance of harvesting peppers at the appropriate stage of physiological maturity depending on their intended use, whether for fresh consumption, whole drying, powdered products, capsaicin extraction, or seed propagation.

The chapter then examines sorting and grading operations, focusing on quality parameters, automation processes, and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence technologies to improve operational efficiency and accuracy.

The storage and packaging section explores optimal environmental conditions for maintaining chilli quality, while also reviewing innovations in modified atmosphere packaging and the transition toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging materials.

Finally, transport and logistics aspects are discussed, particularly cold chain management and the challenges associated with international trade, together with practical solutions aimed at reducing losses and improving product preservation during distribution.

By integrating traditional knowledge with modern technologies, the chapter provides a broad overview of best practices designed to minimize postharvest losses while ensuring longer shelf life and greater market competitiveness.

Source

Dutta, H., & Loushigam, G. L. (s.f.). Post-harvest Handling and Storage of Chilli Peppers. Springer.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-26227-1_3