post-harvest
Once crops are gathered
Post-harvest describes the period or activities that occur after crops have been gathered from the field.
This stage encompasses everything from initial handling and storage to processing, packaging, and transportation.
Post-harvest losses—from spoilage, pests, or improper storage—represent a major concern in agriculture, particularly in developing regions.
Post-harvest treatment with fungicides extends shelf life.
The term applies to grains, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products.
Extracting grain from stalks
- winnowingSeparating grain from chaff
- dryingMoisture removal process
- millingProcessing grain mechanically
- huskingRemoving dry outer covering
shelling · cleaning · sorting · grading · bagging · storage · silos · warehousing
Temperature-controlled distribution system
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- vacuum sealingRemoving air from packaging
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
- dryersAppliances removing moisture from laundry
sensors · dehumidifiers · preservation · packaging · cold storage
Food degradation process
- rotOrganic breakdown process
- moldForm-giving container
- pestsBothersome insects or animals
- weevilsSmall crop-destroying beetles
rodents · waste · shrinkage · contamination · deterioration · damage · infestation · fungal
Produce or relinquish
- supply chainProduct delivery infrastructure
- commodityFungible traded good
- food securityGuaranteed adequate nutrition access
- smallholderFarmer of limited land
farmers · cooperatives · value chain · agribusiness · rural · staple crops · cereals · legumes
threshing
Extracting grain from stalks
- winnowingSeparating grain from chaff
- dryingMoisture removal process
- millingProcessing grain mechanically
husking · shelling · cleaning · sorting · grading · bagging · storage · silos · warehousing · curing
cold chain
Temperature-controlled distribution system
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- vacuum sealingRemoving air from packaging
- irradiationExposure to radiant energy
dryers · sensors · dehumidifiers · preservation · packaging · cold storage
spoilage
Food degradation process
weevils · rodents · waste · shrinkage · contamination · deterioration · damage · infestation · fungal · decay
yield
Produce or relinquish
- supply chainProduct delivery infrastructure
- commodityFungible traded good
- food securityGuaranteed adequate nutrition access
smallholder · farmers · cooperatives · value chain · agribusiness · rural · staple crops · cereals · legumes · tubers
- bananasbananas, banana, plantain, plantains, banana leaves
- crop stagesplanting, sowing, germination, sprouting, seedling
- agronomyagronomy, crop yield, soil science, crop yields, cultivation
- grape ripeningripening, maturation, color change, softening, hang time
post-harvestplanting
Placing seeds in earth
sowing · seeding · growing season · cultivation · planting season
post-harvestgrowing
Increasing or enlarging
planting · cultivation · pre-production · developmental · immature