Food loss of perishable produce from farm to retail: evidence from tomato supply chains in South India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reducing food loss and waste (FLW) may narrow gaps between fruit and vegetable production and recommended intake. However, FLW estimates are inconsistent due to varying estimation methods.

Objectives

Using multiple estimation approaches, we examined the extent and determinants of FLW along tomato supply chains in South India, from farm to retail. We also explored tomato quality assessments.

Methods

We surveyed 75 farm households and 83 tomato traders in the Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, and 52 vegetable traders and 50 vegetable retailers in Hyderabad, Telangana, on harvest and market days. We calculated declared FLW values using participant-reported losses to estimate the preharvest quality FLW and quantitative FLW values at the farmer, vegetable-trade

SUBMITTER: Boiteau JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9170466 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature