Scrutinizing Visual Quality Assessment of Fresh Produce as Entry Point toward Strengthening Local Food Systems

In this study we hypothesize that one of the most significant steps toward promoting local food systems is through both analyzing consumer’s demands and revisiting mandatory/ voluntary guidelines on cosmetic defects of food. The objective of this study is to provide a holistic analysis to whether “blemished” fresh produce entering the food supply chains carry food safety risk or rather opportunities to promote local food systems. This work was conducted studying various sources of information, including: i) quality standards (both voluntary and mandatory) and other regulatory tools; ii) analysis of range of characteristics prevalent in assessing visual quality of selected fruit and vegetables along the supply chain; iii) survey to consumers of locally produced fruit and vegetables. The results demonstrated that standards for grades of fruit and vegetable indirectly exclude local food producers. Moreover, terminology used by current standards to describe physical defects is confusing which has influenced the way to assess produce by actors in the supply chain, as well as consumers. We conclude that better understanding of field­physical/pest damaged fruit and vegetables and its scientific validation of the relative food safety risk may become an important additional tool toward stimulating consumption of local produce.1