Dates are an important fruit, especially in many African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries. In recent years, this fruit has gained significant importance in terms of global commerce. Some of the major challenges confronting date fruit production and commerce are related to postharvest handling technologies, use of appropriate processing and packaging technologies, food safety aspects and quality assurance.
Dates: Postharvest Science, Processing Technology and Health Benefits is the only book to address the science and technology of postharvest production in this commercially important and growing sector of the fruit processing industry. It brings together and reviews contemporary information on practices in the value chain of dates, from production through consumption. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of every aspect of postharvest production including pest control, innovative production, postharvest and processing technologies, packaging, and quality management. It also considers the nutrition and health benefits of date consumption as well as the phytochemical components of dates. Featuring contributions from carefully chosen, outstanding professionals in this field, no other book currently available covers such a breadth and depth of material.