![]() ![]() Investments in infrastructure to keep produce cool until it gets to market, such as vacuum cooling refrigerated storage facilities, are large, with benefits often shared across multiple growers. Food loss as it relates to fresh fruits and vegetables is especially challenging because these foods are highly perishable.ĭownload higher resolution chart (2539 pixels by 1960, 300 dpi) Cold-Chain Infrastructure While the causes of food loss at the end stages of the supply chain have been well studied, the causes of loss on the farm and in early distribution stages have not. Through the entire supply chain, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 30 percent of global food loss occurs at the agricultural production and harvest stage, 6 percent at post-harvest, 3 percent at processing and packaging, 18 percent at retail and distribution, and 42 percent at consumption. various policies related to the harvest and marketing of fresh produce.ĮRS estimates that $161.6 billion of food at the retail and consumer stage of the supply chain goes uneaten yearly.aesthetic standards and consumer preferences,. ![]() Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Economic Research Service (ERS) identified a variety of economic factors that influence growers or distributors in their decisions regarding food loss, including: Why would a grower leave food unharvested in the field? When reducing food loss is considered alongside goals like improving farm income, industry adoption of food loss initiatives may be more likely. ![]() Reducing food loss in produce-when fruits and vegetables are not eaten by consumers-is a priority for the USDA and other national and international food and environmental entities.įood may be left unharvested in a field or not sold by a distributor for a variety of economic reasons, including price volatility, labor cost, lack of refrigeration infrastructure, consumer preferences, quality-based contracts, and various policies related to produce.Įach action to reduce produce food loss comes at a cost. ![]()
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