Author
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BARTH, MARGARET - USDA |
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HANKINSON, THOMAS - USDA |
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Zhuang, Hong |
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Breidt, Frederick |
Submitted to: Compendium
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2008 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Consumption of fruit and vegetable products has dramatically increased by more than 30% over the last few decades in the U.S. It is also estimated that about 20% of all fruit and vegetables produced is lost each year due to spoilage. The focus of this chapter is to provide a general background on microbiological spoilage of fruit and vegetable products that include the categories of fresh pre- and post-harvest, fresh-cut, fermented and acidified. This chapter will cover characteristics of spoilage organisms associated with each of these categories of fruit and vegetables that impact market and shelf-life attributes along with factors and mechanisms contributing to spoilage patterns. Measures for prevention and control along with methods for detection will be discussed. |