Precooling and Cold Storage Methods for Fruits and Vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa—A Review

Fruits and vegetables, known for their large nutrient potential, are more susceptible to high postharvest loss than other crops. Factors such as perishability, poor post-production handling storage processing infrastructures, increase the magnitude of food losses. The fruits vegetables in Sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 30% 50%. One key strategy overcome losses is through cold chain integration value chains. However, most developing countries currently lack basic infrastructure management skills needed support development integrated chains, particularly rural areas, where up 60% overall occur on farm ‘first-mile’ distribution. Storage highly perishable produce a controlled environment with respect temperature relative humidity leads quality quantity preservation. This contributes increases nutrition security, household incomes environmental protection. review addresses need adopting strengthening measures precooling improve A range methods, suitability, energy demands constraints distribution discussed recommendations made how accessibility small-scale farmers communities.