Postharvest Losses in Quantity and Quality of Table Grape (cv. Crimson Seedless) along the Supply Chain and Associated Economic, Environmental and Resource Impacts

High incidence of postharvest losses is a major challenge to global food security. Addressing better strategy increase business efficiency and improve security rather than simply investing more resources production. Global estimates show that fruit vegetables are the highest contributors waste, with 45% production lost. This represents 38% total waste. However, lack primary data on at critical steps in value chain unknown economic, environmental resource impacts these makes it difficult formulate mitigation strategies. paper quantifies quality attributes ‘Crimson Seedless’ table grapes farm simulated retail levels. Table were sampled from four farms Western Cape Province South Africa, largest deciduous export region Southern Africa. Mean on-farm immediately after harvest was 13.9% 2017 5.97% 2018, ranging 5.51% 23.3% for individual farms. The main reason mechanical damage (7.1%). After 14 days cold storage (−0.3 ± 0.7 °C, 81.3 4.1% RH), mean grape 3.05% 2.41% which increased 7.41% 2.99% 28 days. 10 further under market conditions (5.4 0.6 83.7 2.9% 3.65% during marketing 4.36% export. Storing ambient (25.1 1.3 °C 46.6 6.0% RH) resulted higher losses, increasing 7.03 9.59 14.29% 3, 7 days, respectively. socioeconomic amounted financial over ZAR 279 million (USD 17 according conversion rate 20 October 2020) annually, this associated loss 177.43 MJ fossil energy, 4.8 m3 fresh water contributed emission approximately 52,263 tons CO2 equivalent.