This research was developed in a small distribution unit, having as its primary goal the analysis of the fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables section, so as to identify the products with higher losses, as well as the main factors impacting on quality. The conditions of transportation, storage and display in the selling unit were analysed. A comprehensive study was performed using data from 2010, 2011 and 2012, having the year 2011 been examined in higher detail, for the analysis of the fresh and minimally processed fruit and horticultural section. The fruits and vegetables with the highest rate of return along the year are those that require refrigeration, especially lettuce and Portuguese cabbage in the horticultural section. The fruits did not have as many returns along the year. As for the minimally processed, the simplest salads have the highest return. The main issues are due to the storage temperature and improper product display, as the refrigeration board, despite always registering temperature values of 8ºC over 7 days, presented higher temperatures, along with high heterogeneity in the values measured at different reading points.

Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Instituto Superior de Agronomia