Lettuce
Postharvest management of lettuce knows many aspects. Please select the page of your interest below. We start with discussing the harvest practices for lettuce. We continue with proper packhouse practices and transport practices. The last step in the supply chain is the retail. Also the needed retail practices for lettuce are described. The last two lettuce pages deal with lettuce quality and frequently occurring disorders and diseases. If you need direct consultation on proper postharvest management of lettuce, please contact our expert through the contact form below.
Postharvest points of attention for lettuce
Harvest practices for lettuce
Proper harvest of lettuce is an essential start for a successful supply chain. The performance of the harvesters is critical to delivering a good quality product. First of all, harvesting at the right maturity is important to ensure the best quality during shelf life. Harvest and further handling must be done carefully to avoid bruising and other damages to the product. The use of clean and suitable materials such as harvest crates also serves these purposes
Packhouse practices for lettuce
Packhouse practices for lettuce cover the activities from the moment the products arrive in the packhouse to the moment of transport to the intended market. Sorting, grading, washing, packing and cooling are among the main activities. It is very important that the packhouse has sufficient capacity to cool the products, as good temperature management is a requirement to maintain a good quality of horticultural produce. Furthermore, proper cleaning and sanitizing of building and equipment is part of good packhouse practices.
Transport practices for lettuce
Transport of fresh products like lettuce generally takes place in (refrigerated) trucks, reefer containers, or by plane. Checks and proper loading are always important to maintain good (temperature) conditions for the product during transport. For fresh products, refrigerated transport is often necessary. Trucks and reefers can maintain a low temperature, but do not have enough cooling capacity to lower the product temperature. Therefore, products must be pre-cooled before entering the refrigerated truck or reefer. Careful driving and handling are essential to prevent damage to produce from mechanical actions.
Retail practices for lettuce
Improved retail practices can lead to a higher quality of whole lettuces and fresh-cut lettuce, and improve customer satisfaction. For the highest freshness on the shelf and to minimize waste, 'first-in first-out' management may be the best strategy. However, quality inspections may lead to other decisions. The staff must be well trained in handling the different types of fresh produce. They must realize that fresh products are very susceptible to handling damage and to unfavourable conditions such as too low or too high temperature.
Lettuce quality
Quality of lettuce is determined by several characteristics that give enjoyment to the consumer. Important characteristics of quality are appearance, colour, texture and flavour. Appearance and colour are examples of external quality parameters. Texture and flavor are examples of internal quality. The quality characteristics are influenced by variety, pre-harvest factors, harvest practices and postharvest handling. Determination of quality provides an important indication of the remaining storage potential and shelf-life.
Lettuce disorders and diseases
Good quality products are free from diseases and disorders. Customers are not willing to purchase lettuce with rots, damages, strong discoloration or wilting. There are dozens of different diseases and disorders, which are not always easy to recognize. A good diagnosis of the product’s health is important. By recognizing the symptoms of a disease or disorder, it can be linked to the cause. If you know the cause, you know what measures can be taken to prevent the disease or disorder in the future.
Research insights for postharvest management of lettuce
In our applied research, we study postharvest management of many fresh products. On this page, some results from our research relevant for lettuce are listed.