Post-Harvest
Post-harvest heat mitigation is essential for preserving blueberry quality and minimizing losses after the berries are removed from the field. Timely cooling and protective handling strategies help extend shelf life, reduce decay, and ensure that fruit remains marketable throughout storage and transportation.
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More images of the strategies in use are located under "Photo Library".
In-Field Coolers
Effective post-harvest handling is critical to maintaining blueberry quality under extreme heat, with key strategies focused on minimizing field exposure and quickly transferring berries to shaded or cooled environments. Portable in-field cooling systems and stationary in-barn units can effectively lower fruit temperature, reducing the risk of moisture loss, decay, and softening. However, in British Columbia, adoption of mobile cooling systems remains limited due to smaller production scales and financial constraints faced by many growers.
Reflective Tarps
In addition to mechanical cooling systems, physical methods such as reflective tarps can effectively reduce berry exposure to direct sunlight after harvest. Field trials in British Columbia have shown that these tarps help maintain stable, cool, and moist conditions, significantly reducing berry weight loss. Their adaptability to various farm setups and relatively low cost make them a practical and flexible post-harvest heat mitigation strategy, despite some limitations under varying weather conditions.
