Contact Person – Mrs. Sheron Evans-McFarlane (Senior Food Storage Scientist)
e-mail:fs.admin@cwjamaica.com

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

Services Offered:

FSPID staff members participate in a sensory evaluation of stored sweet potato conducted by the Post-harvest Technology Unit.	The Post-harvest Technology Unit team evaluating cassava tubers after eight weeks of storage

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.

Cassava tubers being examined in the unit's environmental chamber.