Contact Person – Ms. Danielle McGregor (Senior Food Storage Scientist)
e-mail:danielle.mcgregor@miic.gov.jm

The objective of this unit is to reduce postharvest loss of perishable commodities entering commerce.

Services Offered:

Danielle McGregor outlining the roles and objectives of the Postharvest Technology Unit	Christopher Rose conducting a titratable acidity test on fruits

1. Provides solutions to postharvest problems confronting the exporter, retailer and farmer so that losses due to deterioration of perishables (e.g. fruits, vegetables, root crops and ornamentals) during handling, packaging and transportation are minimized

2. Consultations re proper handling methods, appropriate packaging techniques, storage conditions and methods, proper transportation and floor plan design of packing houses

3. Training in postharvest technology

4. Research for clients requiring adapted technology as certain conditions may have to be modified to suit the local environment

5. Keeps farmers, retailers and exporters up to date with technology through adaptive research

6. Inspection of supermarkets, packing houses and other food storage facilities.

Danielle McGregor demonstrating the use of a chroma meter to determine maturity indices of fruits and vegetables