New publication: Food loss in glasshouse-grown tomatoes

Margaret Thorsen

Recently graduated Masters student Margaret Thorsen, along with supervisors Associate Professor Miranda Mirosa and Professor Sheila Skeaff recently published a paper in the Horticulturae journal looking at food loss in the tomato industry in New Zealand. This research is particularly notable as it is one of the first studies looking at food loss in primary production in New Zealand.

This study provides food loss data, and explores food loss drivers, for one of New Zealand’s largest glasshouse tomato growers by weighing and visually assessing tomato losses at the glasshouse, packhouse and sales warehouse. Qualitative interviews were held with the tomato grower and selected employees, as well as key industry stakeholders throughout New Zealand. Total food loss was 16.9% of marketed yield, consisting of 13.9% unharvested tomatoes, 2.8% rejected at the glasshouse and 0.3% rejected at the packhouse. Tomato losses predominantly resulted from commercial factors such as market price, competitor activity and supply and demand issues. Similar food loss drivers were reported throughout the New Zealand horticulture sector. Commercial factors, in particular, are challenging to address, and collaboration throughout the supply chain will be required to help growers reduce food losses.

You can find the article and Maragret's thesis in our Resource Centre.