Alternative forms of banana marketing improve quality and reduce losses
Abstract
At the moment a crescent is verified disputes of the consumers for foods of better quality and presentation forms. That interest has been contributing to the development of new techniques to prolong the useful life of the products, besides improving the presentation and the practicality during the commercialization, transport and consumption. However, the shelf life and losses of the bananas ‘Nanicão’ and ‘Prata anã’ under different presentation forms were evaluated in laboratory conditions of grocery store of the city of Lavras, MG, Brazil.
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Introduction
The banana is one of the most fruit crops worldwide. According to FAO (2016a), Brazil is in third position in the ranking of the largest producers of bananas, after India and China. In the year 2015 it was produced over 7 million tons, and the types of most cultivated banana in Brazil were the table, such as 'Prata', 'Nanica', 'Maça' and 'Ouro' (IBGE, 2016). Although Brazil be the third largest banana producer in the world, it is a small exporter, being that limited its production domestic consumption, mainly due to the lack of product quality control (COELHO, 2011).
Of the total harvested bananas, only about 40% to 50% actually reach the hands of consumers, this is due to losses caused by damage sustained in the following phases: from planting to harvest (due to lack of crop management planning) at the time of harvest, the heaping of curls, in wooden containers, in domestic and foreign transport and handling of fruits in the markets and supermarkets (TAGLIARI & FRANCO, 1994).
Currently there is a growing consumer demand for better quality food and presentations. This interest has contributed to the development of new techniques to extend the life of products, besides improving the presentation and practicality in the marketing, transportation and consumption (BRESSAN, 2007).
The type of packaging and the storage temperature can influence the conservation or life Banana shelf, especially in grocery store where the fruit is subjected to successive handlings since the withdrawal of the boxes to reach the consumer's table (LIMA et al, 2013; PEREIRA et al, 2009). According Prado et al. (2011), improper handling of food, lack of processing (packaging), there is poor quality of packaging of products and prolonged exposure time in grocery store, are among the main causes of food and product losses.
Research by Pereira et al. (2008) on the acceptance of new forms of presentation in the banana trade in Lavras/MG, indicate that on average 29.0% consumers prefer the form of bouquet, 33.0% in bunch, 21.0% packed in styrofoam trays and 17.0% in bulk. According to these authors, 35.0% of consumers said that the banana in bulk and packaged, presented longer shelf life and loss only 2.0%, whereas for banana bunch losses have been reported up to 12.0%. This study aimed to evaluate the shelf life and losses of bananas 'Prata Anâ' and 'Nanicão' in different forms of presentation in grocery store and laboratory conditions.
Conclusion
Bananas, bulk and packaged in trays coated polyethylene film had longer shelf life and lower losses than bananas in bunch and bouquet during marketing.
The lowest shelf life and greater grocery store losses of the banana is due to handling by consumers.
The ‘Prata Anã’ banana has a longer shelf life than the 'Nanicão'.