Effects of an integrated harvest system on the quality of olive fruit for small producers

Small producers confront specific challenges when they opt to produce high-quality olive fruit. Limited resources for investing in harvest machinery and manpower are the main reasons continuing a traditional method that puts final product its economic value at risk. This paper discusses efficiency of an integrated system as possible solution these challenges. The is formed by newly designed manual harvesting device use cooling room near grove. Both systems were evaluated assess their feasibility optimum conditions before processing. combined effect cold storage on fruit characteristics (incidence decay, skin color, weight loss, firmness, respiration, ethylene production) was three different varieties (‘Arbequina’, ‘Picual’ ‘Verdial’) four times (0, 4, 8, 14 days). results indicate proposed combination with appropriate offers affordable alternative obtaining best physiological characteristics.