The consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) has a significant protective effect in reducing various cardiometabolic diseases. In recent years, the U.S. government has made a lot of effort to promote F&V consumption through different projects and programs, including the MyPyramid food guidance system supported by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, and the Fruits & Veggies More Matters program (previously called the 5-A-Day for Better Health program), supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public and private agencies. However, modest success has been achieved in promoting healthy diets among the American public. Only 40% of Americans eat five or more servings of F&V daily. Using a higher-level F&V consumption standard, less than 10% of American adults meet the MyPyramid recommendations. In order to understand the factors affecting F&V consumption and to summarize the factors from different perspectives into a coherent framework, we look at previous research regarding these various factors and their relationship to F&V consumption. The factors coalesce in three main levels: individual factors, household factors and environmental factors. Individual factors include demographics, dietary habits, lifestyle, health status and sensory appeal; household factors are marital status, number of family members, number of children in the family and parenting practices; and environmental factors consist of food prices, food accessibility and availability, social interaction and seasonal factors. All of these factors may positively or negatively affect F&V consumption among different population groups. Our study will help future researchers and policy makers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this complex issue and develop more effect ideas for addressing it.
The consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) has a significant protective effect in reducing various cardiometabolic diseases. In recent years, the U.S. government has made a lot of effort to promote F&V consumption through different projects and programs, including the MyPyramid food guidance system supported by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, and the Fruits & Veggies More Matters program (previously called the 5-A-Day for Better Health program), supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public and private agencies. However, modest success has been achieved in promoting healthy diets among the American public. Only 40% of Americans eat five or more servings of F&V daily. Using a higher-level F&V consumption standard, less than 10% of American adults meet the MyPyramid recommendations. In order to understand the factors affecting F&V consumption and to summarize the factors from different perspectives into a coherent framework, we look at previous research regarding these various factors and their relationship to F&V consumption. The factors coalesce in three main levels: individual factors, household factors and environmental factors. Individual factors include demographics, dietary habits, lifestyle, health status and sensory appeal; household factors are marital status, number of family members, number of children in the family and parenting practices; and environmental factors consist of food prices, food accessibility and availability, social interaction and seasonal factors. All of these factors may positively or negatively affect F&V consumption among different population groups. Our study will help future researchers and policy makers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this complex issue and develop more effect ideas for addressing it.
An investigation was carried out in Abraka and Kokori communities of Delta State, Nigeria in 2013 to evaluate the trace metal concentration in some fruits: pawpaw, banana, orange and African garden egg commonly grown and sold in their market with a view to establishing baseline information on their trace metal elements. The fruit tissues were ashed, wet-digested and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer following the additive method. The results indicated the presence of elevated trace elements including lead, chromium, cadmium, zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt and copper in the test fruits from Kokori market when compared with values obtained from the same fruits obtained from Abraka (a non oil producing community) in the same local government. The results also showed a highly significant (P<0.05) difference relative to the control (Abraka) values. Though, the values of the trace metals obtained fell below the critical permissible level following FAO and FEPA and WHO standards, their persistence in soil due to their non-biodegradability raises environmental concern because of the inter dependence between plants and animals including man in the ecosystem. The need for metal monitoring in food materials including fruits most available, affordable and sustainable sources of micronutrients in diets should be encouraged. Finding from this study have practical application in environmental science, health management and crop improvement.
This paper investigates the impact of food safety standards promulgated by governments or imposed by byers from the private sector on the capacity of developing countries to access developed countries' markets for high value agricultural and food products. I offer an analysis that disentangles productivity-sorting from quality-sorting in fresh fruits and vegetables exports. My theoretical model and empirical analysis confirms the importance of taking into consideration importers' preference for quality as well as exporters' capacity to produce quality products when analyzing average export unit prices of fresh fruits and vegetables. Thanks to a new database on U.S import refusals, my empirical analysis shows that a shock to reputation seems to have a downgrading effect, reducing the capacity of countries to export quality products.
International audience ; This study describes method validation for determination of more than 40 pesticides in apples using GC technique. Target compounds belong to the groups of organochlorine, organophosphorus, carbamates, pyrethroids, triazoles, dicarboximides, strobilurins etc. The sample preparation consists of acetone extraction and subsequent cleanup/concentration by SPE with polymer-based sorbent. Single quadrupole GC-MS operating in SIM mode and electron impact ionization was used for identification and quantification of the pesticides. The average recoveries obtained for analytes ranged between 70 and 110 % at three fortification levels - 0.01, 0.1 and 0.2 mg kg-1. The relative standard deviation was lower than 20 % for all tested compounds. The calculated limits of detection and limits of quantification were below 0.01 mg kg-1 which were sufficiently low compared to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by European legislation. The proposed method was applied for determination of pesticide residue in four selected apple varieties after harvesting. Whole and processed fruits (peels and peeled fruits) were analyzed from different schemes of treatment: two conventional, one based on integrated pest management (IPM) and two variants based on organic production (controls). Higher level of pesticide residues were found in apple fruits under conventional conditions. Fenitrothion and chlorpyrifos residues were detected frequently in apple peels at concentrations up to 0.45 and 0.77 mg kg-1, respectively. The levels found in the whole fruits of the same samples were much lower than in peels and below the respective MRLs (0.5 mg kg-1 for both pesticides). In the apples from IPM were found only measurable residues of triadimenol, concentrated in the peels up to 0.05 mg kg-1.
International audience ; This study describes method validation for determination of more than 40 pesticides in apples using GC technique. Target compounds belong to the groups of organochlorine, organophosphorus, carbamates, pyrethroids, triazoles, dicarboximides, strobilurins etc. The sample preparation consists of acetone extraction and subsequent cleanup/concentration by SPE with polymer-based sorbent. Single quadrupole GC-MS operating in SIM mode and electron impact ionization was used for identification and quantification of the pesticides. The average recoveries obtained for analytes ranged between 70 and 110 % at three fortification levels - 0.01, 0.1 and 0.2 mg kg-1. The relative standard deviation was lower than 20 % for all tested compounds. The calculated limits of detection and limits of quantification were below 0.01 mg kg-1 which were sufficiently low compared to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) established by European legislation. The proposed method was applied for determination of pesticide residue in four selected apple varieties after harvesting. Whole and processed fruits (peels and peeled fruits) were analyzed from different schemes of treatment: two conventional, one based on integrated pest management (IPM) and two variants based on organic production (controls). Higher level of pesticide residues were found in apple fruits under conventional conditions. Fenitrothion and chlorpyrifos residues were detected frequently in apple peels at concentrations up to 0.45 and 0.77 mg kg-1, respectively. The levels found in the whole fruits of the same samples were much lower than in peels and below the respective MRLs (0.5 mg kg-1 for both pesticides). In the apples from IPM were found only measurable residues of triadimenol, concentrated in the peels up to 0.05 mg kg-1.
46 Pags., 3 Tabls., 10 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681699 ; Software con manual de uso en: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/45608 ; This paper presents a real-time, on-farm irrigation scheduling software (RIDECO). The software was been designed for stone fruit orchards in the semiarid conditions of Spain. The characterization of stone fruit crop water requirements for the local conditions and under different irrigation strategies is presented. Meteorological data in the study area is collected daily from the SIAR public network of weather stations in an automated fashion. Subsequently, values of cumulative degree-days are computed to identify the stages of fruit growth and crop development. The software allows performing weekly irrigation schedules under standard, regulated deficit irrigation and water restriction conditions. The irrigation scheduling software stands as a valuable tool for on-farm water resources allocation planning. It can be used to forecast the irrigation water required to meet seasonal meteorological, agronomical and managerial scenarios in stone fruit orchards. RIDECO can also be used to plan deficit irrigation strategies in cases of severe water restrictions. The software can be parameterized to adjust to specific varieties and local farming conditions. A variety of graphs assist irrigation managers in their decisions. ; The authors sequence in this paper follows the "first-last-author-emphasis" norm. This research was funded by the Plan Nacional de I+D+i of the Government of Spain through grant RIDECO-CONSOLIDER CSD2006-00067. ; Peer reviewed
[EN] The increase in international trade due to globalization is evident in southeast Spain, which has become the top exporter of fruit and vegetables. Countries within the European Union, such as Germany and France, emphasize the sustainability and environmental impacts of these products. Hence, a greater understanding of the environmental implications of transporting fruit and vegetables between their origin and their destination might improve the sustainability of this commercial activity. The concept of a carbon footprint is a recognized environmental indicator that can be used for life cycle analysis. Here, a rigorous carbon footprint assessment was developed to examine the impact of using cardboard box containers to store and transport 1,000 t of fruit and vegetable products by road from their origin in Almería, Spain, to a destination market. The assessment included the fabrication of the cardboard boxes, the service they provide while transporting the products to the distribution center of the destination, and the end-of-life of the boxes for the six main products grown in Almería. The results showed that storing and transporting 1,000 t of product by road emits between 58 t and 130 t of CO2e depending on the fruit or vegetable type and the destination market. The implications of the end-of-life scenarios with respect to the destination are also discussed. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted for the transport distance. Lastly, biogenic CO2 production was also assessed according to standard carbon footprint assessment method. ; Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Viñoles-Cebolla, R.; Bastante-Ceca, M.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2020). Transport of Spanish fruit and vegetables in cardboard boxes: A carbon footprint analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. 244:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118784 ; S ; 1 ; 12 ; 244 ; Albrecht, S., Brandstetter, P., Beck, T., Fullana-i-Palmer, P., Grönman, K., Baitz, M., … Fischer, M. (2013). An extended life cycle analysis of packaging systems for fruit and ...
18 Pags., 6 Tabls., 7 Figs. Available online at www.inia.es/sjar ; Fruit production development is resulting in large commercial orchards with improved water management standards. While the agronomic and economic benefits of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) have long been established, the local variability in soils and climate and the irrigation system design limits its practical applications. This paper uses a case study approach (a 225 ha stone fruit orchard) to unveil limitations derived from environmental spatial variability and irrigation performance. The spatial variability of soil physical parameters and meteorology in the orchard was characterized, and its implication on crop water requirements was established. Irrigation depths applied during 2004- 2009 were analysed and compared with crop water requirements under standard and RDI strategies. Plant water status was also measured during two irrigation seasons using stem water potential measurements. On-farm wind speed variability amounted to 55%, representing differences of 17% in reference evapotranspiration. During the study seasons, irrigation scheduling evolved towards deficit irrigation; however, the specific traits of RDI in stone fruits were not implemented. RDI implementation was limited by: 1) poor correspondence between environmental variability and irrigation system design; 2) insufficient information on RDI crop water requirements and its on-farm spatial variability within the farm; and 3) low control of the water distribution network ; This research was funded by the Plan Nacional de I+D+i of the Government of Spain through grant RIDECO-CONSOLIDER CSD2006-00067 and by CSIC through the grant PIE 2007-2009. ; Peer reviewed
Recently countries are gaining opportunities and confronting confront obstacles arising from global supply chain integration. The main objective of this paper is to explore business opportunities and threats in terms of logistics and supply chain management of exporting Thai fruits to India. Supply Chain Analysis (SCA) framework is used to analyse the business opportunities and logistics management in India market in schemes run by the modern trade to assist smallholders with production and marketing. The study, consequently, intends to explore empirically the pattern of Thai fruits supply chain management and restructuring in India market. The patterns of logistics and supply chain management found in this study are substantiated and linked with the existing modern trade scheme to see whether there are inconsistencies in the policies and actual implementations. This presents threats as well as opportunities for smallholders in Thailand. The standard set by buyers requires farmers to adjust their production and marketing systems. Assistances for farmers are derived from modern trade and government and collaborations amongst these two parties. MICE is proposed to be a mechanism to promote opportunities of exporting Thai fruits to India.
Examines background conditions and problems that led to adoption of a new EU banana trade policy; reactions in Latin America, the Caribbean, the US, and Europe. Banana Protocol attached to the Fourth Lomé Convention and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Framework Agreement; roles of Standard Fruit (Chiquita), United Fruit (Dole), and Del Monte.