tradicionalmenteinovador - Brazil Buyers & Sellers

se tornado cada vez mais populares pela conveniência
que oferecem. A pesquisadora lembra que a utilização
desse tipo de produto no Brasil é recente, mas com
grande potencial de crescimento, devido à economia de
tempo e de trabalho que proporciona, tanto em nível
doméstico como em redes de alimentação rápida e em
restaurantes.
Outra vantagem é a possibilidade de processamento
nas regiões produtoras. “Isso contribui para a diversificação
das indústrias regionais, reduzindo as perdas pós-colheita,
melhorando o manejo dos resíduos, facilitando o
transporte e eliminando problemas de ordem fitossanitária”,
enfatiza. Além disso, ressalta que essa nova opção disponível
aos horticultores permite maior aproveitamento
da produção, agrega valor, é bastante adequada às micro
e pequenas empresas familiares e possibilita a fixação de
mão de obra nas regiões identificadas com o cultivo.
Sílvio Ávila
Properly and
tactfully
>> From field to table, some steps
must be followed for qualityoriented
vegetable sales
To make sure all foods reach the consumer table fresh and
in safe condition, the horticulture sector resorts to a number
of steps, in which, depending on the cultivar, more sophisticated
technologies are involved, or manual processing is
implemented. According to the researcher for the Engineering
and Automation Center run by the Agronomic Institute of
Campinas (IAC), Juliana Sanches, vegetables require distinct
post-harvest handling services. “So as to make it easier to
figure out the procedures, they should be split in accordance
with the botanic structures utilized at the human feeding
process: fruit, leafy vegetables, roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes
and truffles”, he observes.
The researcher maintains there are different post-harvest
handling systems, with some common basic operations, like
harvesting, packaging and transport. “In Brazil, most vegetables
are washed, particularly the ones whose commercial
portions grow underground, or close to the ground, such as
lettuce”, he mentions. In general, according to Juliana, the
steps that ensure an efficient post-harvest operation are as
follows: harvesting itself, loading, transport to packing house,
unloading, rinsing, selection and grading, packaging, labeling,
loading and transport to the distribution centers.
Among the technologies that collaborate towards the development
of the horticultural sector, Juliana points out the
minimally processed foods, which have become increasingly
popular due to their convenience. The researcher recalls that
the use of this type of products in Brazil has been introduced
recently, but with a great potential for soaring even further,
because they save time and work at home, in fast food chains
and restaurants.
Another benefit lies in the fact that they can be processed
in the regions where they are produced. “This gives a huge
contribution towards the diversification of the regional
industries, reducing post-harvest losses, improving waste
management practices, facilitating transport operations and
eliminating problems related to phytosanitary questions”, she
recalls. Furthermore, she stresses that this new option available
to vegetable growers leads to a better use of the production,
adds value, is very appropriate to micro and small family
operations and retains the workforce in the regions identified
with this type of cultivations.
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