Features Production Research
Improving postharvest tomato health, handling

November 15, 2016, St. Paul, MN – Many health issues can develop after tomatoes are harvested from the field, caused either by pathogens, physical injury, environmental extremes, or a combination of these factors.

The Plant Management Network (PMN) has released a new presentation entitled Maintaining Tomato Health After Harvest to help professionals avoid common problems that reduce the quality and marketability of field-grown tomatoes.

The webcast, developed by Jerry A. Bartz, associate professor and postharvest pathologist at the University of Florida, provides advice on how to:

• Minimize damage due to rain, cold and other extremes
• Properly pick, cull, store, and transport ripening tomatoes
• Maintain sanitary conditions from harvest to consumer

The 19-minute presentation will remain open access in the Focus on Tomato webcast resource.