Caracterização de perdas na comercialização de frutas tropicais.

Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify and quantify the types and causes of losses of tropical fruits commercialized in supermarkets and fair in the county of Belém-PA.For the evaluation of the losses in the commercialization, visits were made in five establishments, being three supermarkets and two boxes of the fair. The visit and evaluation was made in November 2018.The analysis was performed through primary data, collected through a structured questionnaire, with weekly application in the period of one month. Being analysed the variables of volume of fruits purchased, volume of fruits commercialized, volume of discarded fruits and percentage of loss. The avocado presented greater loss in the supermarket 2, with 22.67%. The pineapple fruit had a higher loss index in supermarket 2, accounting for 14.93%. The highest banana loss rate occurred at the fair box 2 , with 14.55%. For the papaya fruit it was verified that the supermarket 3 indicated loss equal to 14.29%, being the greater among the establishments. Regarding the fruit of the passion fruit, it was observed that the establishment Box 1 showed a greater percentage of loss with 15.07%. Supermarket 1 presented the lowest percentages of fruit losses, emphasizing that it is the only establishment not to adopt SPQV. The results showed that the highest loss indexes were verified in Supermarket 2 and in the Fair Box 2, caused by factors of inadequate handling, poor selection and hygiene, acclimatization of fruits, inadequate infrastructure and, consequently, physiological damages.