Tomato is an important vegetable crop in Kenya. It is widely grown for home consumption and for sale. The demand for fresh tomato is high both for domestic use and markets. However, tomato post-harvest losses are a threat to the harvested tomatoes. The purpose of the study is establishing the effect influence of Packagingon tomatoes from Retail to Consumer: A Case Study of Tomato and Cabbage Farming in Endebess Sub County, Kenya. Descriptive design was used to operationalize research methodology. From this study, it was concluded that poor packaging methods and facilities affects the quality and hence losses in the market. It was recommended that the county government should establish cooling centers in every ward to cushion farmers from incurring losses before transporting their produce to the market. The county government too should build large coolants in the market places to handle the produce once it reaches the markets. In so doing, the post-harvest losses will be mitigated. The study further recommends that farmers should avoid lining their crates with papers to increase aeration in the crates while transporting the produce. The study also recommends that farmers should grade their produce thoroughly by separating the infected tomatoes and cabbages from healthy ones, separate in terms of size and ripening level to reduce on the post-harvest rots.
IRE Journals:
Moengaalice , Prof. Jacquline Korir
"Post Harvest Losses and Changes in Quality of Vegetables from Retail to Consumer: A Case Study of Tomato and Cabbage Farming In Endebess Sub County, Kenya" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 6 Issue 11 2023 Page 548-552
IEEE:
Moengaalice , Prof. Jacquline Korir
"Post Harvest Losses and Changes in Quality of Vegetables from Retail to Consumer: A Case Study of Tomato and Cabbage Farming In Endebess Sub County, Kenya" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 6(11)