Carrot post-harvest losses were evaluated for one year in four stores of a supermarket chain in Brasilia, Brazil. Sampling was performed at two stages: at reception in the store and after exclusion or removal from retail displays. The proportion of large, middle, small and broken roots was measured. Damaged roots were classified in one of the following categories and measured: splitting, forking, mishaped roots, pathological breakdown, pest damage, mechanical damage, and unidentified damage. About 86,88 + 0,66% of the roots were 12-22 cm long (middle size). Wastage presented a higher proportion of small and broken roots and a lower proportion of middle and large roots. The incidence of green top in waste decreased, when compared to the sample taken before marketing, from 23,74 + 1,11% to 13,29 + 1,37%. This is an indication that a substantial proportion of roots with green tops were sold and therefore this defect do not seem to be a factor inducing loss. About 51% of the roots delivered at the supermarket were damaged and the most important defects were mishaped roots (31,0 + 1,16%), mechanical damage (9,46 + 0,4%), and wilting (4,66 + 0,99%). The main causes of waste were mechanical damage (37,4 + 2,47%), mishaped roots (32,0 + 2,58%) and wilting (7,6 + 1,59%).
Daucus carota; stratified random sampling
