TITLE:
A Review of Packaging Options for Tomato Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
AUTHORS:
Tadeo Mibulo, Noble Banadda, Nicholas Kiggundu
KEYWORDS:
Packaging, Tomato, Biofilms, Sub-Saharan Africa, Papaya
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Organic Polymer Materials,
Vol.10 No.4,
October
30,
2020
ABSTRACT: Tomato
production systems in developing countries are characterized by high post
harvest losses. Due to the perishability of tomatoes, lack of awareness and
knowledge of postharvest handling techniques, and poor packaging, farmers
encounter 20% - 50% postharvest losses. Farmers use traditional baskets, wooden, and
plastic crates as packaging materials during transportation of tomatoes.
However, tomatoes are often damaged due to the size and inner rough surface of
crates and the difficulty in handling. The need for fresh tomato at the
consumer requires a packaging that protects tomatoes against physical damages,
increasing its shelf life prior to consumption. Packaging is important in ensuring
quality, easing handling, extending the shelf life during storage and transportation
of food products. However, the conventional use of synthetic-based materials
for advanced packaging contributes to environmental problems because of their
non-biodegradability and health concerns. This review article highlights the
different materials used for packaging tomato and the prospects of using
papaya, as a precursor for developing tomato packages.