Postharvest Microbiology: Enhancing the Quality, Nutrition, and Safety of Fresh Produce

Dear Colleagues,

Research on postharvest pathology, fresh produce safety, and produce microbiome, as related to quality traits, are often analyzed separately. However, microorganisms that colonize horticultural commodities often overlap in space and time and the ensuing interaction has a range of implications, from the shelf life of produce to human health and plant ecosystems. The overarching aim of this Special Issue is to encourage a systemic approach to analyze the dynamics of the microbiome of fresh produce during postharvest phases, identify the origins of the endophytic community, and determine what changes can be made to the microbial profiles to find methods that enhance the beneficial results. In this issue, we are also particularly interested in aspects that may help us to discern the potential risks that could arise from microorganism interactions (e.g., fruit decay-producing organisms, including molds and yeasts; foodborne pathogens; pre- and pro-biotic microorganisms; secondary metabolite production, including volatilome, etc).

This Special Issue will serve as an interdisciplinary forum that invites contributions of scientists from different fields, including biosystems engineers, postharvest technologists, microbiologists, biochemists and food scientists, who study the interactions of the different microorganisms in postharvest produce and how these affect nutrition, safety, and overall quality.

Dr. Jorge M. Fonseca
Dr. Wayne M. Jurick
Dr. Holly P. Bartholomew
Guest Editors

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• postharvest pathology
• quality
• nutrition
• safety
• microbiology