Quantification of On-Farm Pomegranate Fruit Postharvest Losses and Waste, and Implications on Sustainability Indicators: South African Case Study

While there is a growing body of scientific knowledge on improved techniques and procedures for the production handling quality pomegranate fruit to meet market demand, little known about magnitude losses that occur at farm post-farmgate. This study revealed amount lost causes loss estimated impacts losses. The direct measurement method, which involved sorting counting individual fruit, was used since physical identification necessary data collection. Furthermore, qualitative were collected by observation during harvesting interaction with workers. At case in Wellington, Western Cape Province South Africa, range 15.3–20.1% harvested crop considered lost, as fell below marketable standards retail sales. amounted an average 117.76 tonnes per harvest season farm, removed from value chain sold mainly low juicing other purposes translates R10.5 million ($618,715.34) economic farmer. Environmental factors are main on-farm In three cultivars studied, sunburn crack identified leading cause loss, accounting 43.9% all fiber, carbohydrate, protein, iron ascorbic acid contents associated daily recommended nutrition intake 2, 9, 4, 2 24 people, respectively. Strategies control reduce waste level should focus environmental mechanical damage they account highest sources will ensure revenue farmers, sustainable use natural resources, reduction industry, more availability nutritional security.