Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post-harvest Processing of Dates: Drying, Disinfestation and Storage

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sustainable Pest Management in Date Palm: Current Status and Emerging Challenges

Part of the book series: Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection ((SUPP))

Abstract

Progressive demand for better date quality led to the development of solar drying technology. Equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and water activity (aw) are the most reliable criteria indicating the ability to safely store dates. ERH <65 % at 26 °C serves as a critical limit for date storage at the commercial level and ensures resistance to deterioration by microflora. The relationship between MC and ERH for Medjool, Khadrawy, Zahidi and Deglet Noor is established based on different studies. A solar dryer employing mechanical distribution fans was successfully implemented to integrate thermal disinfestation technology. It is based on the principle of transfer of hot air through a tunnel containing 3 tonnes of dates exposed for 3 h at 50 °C. By employing thermal disinfestation technology to replace methyl bromide (MeBr) fumigation, no effect on the organoleptic properties of dates was observed, while complete mortality of insects and high disinfestation levels for all dry date cultivars were achieved. The technology is currently implemented in all Israeli date packing houses to replace the MeBr fumigation. Vapormate™ is a fumigant that contains 16.7 wt.% ethyl formate in liquid CO2. It is registered in Israel to control date pests, such as Nitidulid beetles, at dosage of 420 g/m3 for 12 h at temperatures above 24 °C, as an alternative to MeBr for dates stored in bulk. The storage atmosphere containing a concentration of 60–80 % CO2 in a gas tight chamber was found to be effective in controlling pests and preserving the quality of dates and moisture content (MC) for 4.5 months storage period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Azawi, A. F., El-Haidari, H. S., Aziz, F. M., & Murad, A. K. (1983). Effect of high temperatures on fig moth Ephestia cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Iraq. Date Palm Journal, 2, 79–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Azawi, A. F., El-Haidari, H. S., Aziz, F. M., Murad, A. K., & Al-Saud, H. M. (1984). The effect of high temperatures on the dried fruit beetle Carpophilus hemipterus (L.) a pest of stored dates in Iraq. Date Palm Journal, 3, 327–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Annis, P. C., Van, S., & Graver, J. E. (1991). Suggested recommendations for the fumigation of grain in the ASEAN region. Part 2. Carbon dioxide fumigation of bag-stacks sealed in plastic enclosures: An operations manual (58 pp). Malaysia/Canberra: ASEAN Food Handling Bureau Kuala Lumpur/ACIAR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baloch, A. K., Baloch, W. A., Baloch, M. K., & Saleem, S. A. (2007). Shelf stability of Dhakki dates as influenced by water activity and headspace atmosphere. In: A. Zaid, V. Hegarty, H. H. S. Al Kaabi (Eds.), III international date palm conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE (ISHS Acta Horticulturae 736, 575–586).

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, D. (2008). Review: Date palm arthropod pests and their management in Israel. Phytoparasitica, 36, 411–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, B. E., Molyneux, R. J., & Schatzki, T. F. (2003). Current research on reducing pre- and postharvest aflatoxin contamination of U.S. almond, pistachio, and walnut. Journal of Toxicology – Toxin Reviews, 22, 225–266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donahaye, J. E., Navarro, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (1991). The influence of different treatments causing emigration of nitidulid beetles. Phytoparasitica, 19, 273–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donahaye, E., Navarro, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (1992). An artificial feeding site to investigate emigration of Nitidulid beetles from dried fruits. Journal of Economic Entomology, 85, 1990–1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, V. H. W. (1982). Date production and protection with special reference to North Africa and the near east (FAO Technical Bulletin No. 35, 294 pp). Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, V. H. W., & Aten, A. (1962). Dates handling, processing and packing (FAO Agricultural Development Paper No. 72, 392 pp). Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAOSTAT. (2012). Food and agricultural commodities production. Available at: http://faostat.fao.org/faostat/collections?version=ext&hasbulk=0&subset=agriculture. Accessed on 21 May 2015.

  • Fields, P. G. (1992). The control of stored-product insects and mites with extreme temperatures. Journal of Stored Products Research, 28, 89–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelman, S., Navarro, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (2006). Use of heat for disinfestation and control of insects in dates: Laboratory and field trials. Phytoparasitica, 34, 37–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glasner, B., Botes, A., Zaid, A., & Emmens, J. (2002). Chapter IX: Date harvesting, packinghouse management and marketing aspects. In A. Zaid (Ed.), Date palm cultivation (FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 156, Revision 1). Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization of The United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haritos, V., Damcevski, K., & Dojchinov, G. (2006). Improved efficacy of ethyl formate against stored grain insects by combination with carbon dioxide in a dynamic application. Pest Management Science, 62, 325–333.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imholte, T. J., & Imholte-Tauscher, T. (1999). Engineering for food safety and sanitation. Woodinville: Technical Institute of Food Safety.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J. A. (2004). Dried fruit and nuts: United States of America. In K. Hodges & G. Farrell (Eds.), Crop post-harvest science and technology, Vol. 2, durables (pp. 226–235). Oxford: Blackwell Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kader, A. A., & Hussein, A. M. (2009). Harvesting and postharvest handling of dates (iv, 15 p). Aleppo: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, J. (1967). Rehydration of over dried dates and biochemical changes involved in the rehydrated fruits. MSc thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, J., Elmaleh, H., Reuveni, O., & Ben-Gera, I. (1978). Invertase (β-fructofuranosidase) activity in three date cultivars. Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, 26, 1238–1240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanner, J., Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Ben-Shalom, N., Shoval, N., Granit, R., Rindner, M., Azrieli, A., & Pinto, R. (1999). Development of technological systems to improve the quality of Medjool dates for export (Annual Report 1999 of Research Project No. 416-0435-98, 23 pp). Israel: Ministry of Agriculture (In Hebrew).

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna, H., Ryan, R., Munez, A., Hirst, G., Yoshihara, H., & Barton, S. (2002). Development of Vapormate™ for preshipment disinfestation of export bananas in the Philippines (Crop & Food Research Confidential Report No. 007). Palmerston North: Crop and Food Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacey, J., Hill, S. T., & Edwards, M. A. (1980). Micro-organisms in stored grains: Their enumeration and significance. Tropical Stored Products Information, 38, 19–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren, D. L., & Vincent, L. E. (1953). Nitidulid beetles infesting California dates. Hilgardia, 22, 97–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, J. F. (1987). Date. In: Fruits of warm climates (pp. 5–11). Miami: Julia F. Morton. Available at: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/Date.html. Accessed on 5 June 2015.

  • Muthu, M., Rajenderan, S., Krishnamurthy, T. S., Narasimhan, K. S., Rangaswamy, J. R., Jayaram, M., & Majumder, S. K. (1984). Ethyl formate as a safe general fumigant. In B. E. Ripp, H. J. Banks, E. J. Bond, D. Calverley, E. G. Jay, & S. Navarro (Eds.), Controlled atmosphere and fumigation in grain storages (pp. 367–381). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S. (1998). Pressure tests for gaseous applications in sealed storages: Theory and practice. In J. Zuxun, L. Quan, L. Yongsheng, T. Xianchang, & G. Lianghua (Eds.), Proceedings of 7th international working conference on stored-product protection (Vol. 1, 385–390 pp), October 14–19, 1998, Beijing, China. Chengdu: Sichuan Publishing House of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S. (2006). Postharvest treatment of dates. In Y. Sarig (Ed.), Quality. Stewart Postharvest Review, 2, 1–9. Published online 01 April 2006. 2006 Stewart Postharvest Solutions (UK) Ltd. doi:10.2212/spr.2006.2.1

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Paran, G., Azrieli, A., & Donahaye, E. (1988). Influence of carbon dioxide on color preservation of Deglet noor dates (Annual Report of Project No. 564-001-87, 10 pp). Bet-Dagan: Agricultural Research Organization (In Hebrew).

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Dias, R., & Jay, E. (1989). Integration of modified atmospheres for disinfestation of dried fruits (Final report of BARD Project No. I-1095-86, 86 pp). Bet Dagan: BARD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Rindner, M., Dias, R., & Azrieli, A. (1992). Integration of controlled atmosphere and low temperature for disinfestation and control of dried fruit beetles. In S. Navarro & E. Donahaye (Eds.), International conference on controlled atmosphere fumigation in grain storages (pp. 389–398). Jerusalem: Caspit Press Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E. J., Caliboso, F. M., & Sabio, G. C. (1995). Application of modified atmospheres under plastic covers for prevention of losses in stored grain (Final Report of CDR Project No. C7-053, August 1990 – November 1995, U.S., 32 pp). Israel: Agency for International Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Rindner, M., & Azrieli, A. (1997). Storage of dried fruits under controlled atmospheres for quality preservation and control of nitidulid beetles. In U. Aksoy, L. Ferguson, & S. Hepaksoy (Eds.), Proceedings of first international symposium on Fig, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey (ISHS Acta Horticulturae Number 480, pp. 221–226). Available at: http://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/480_38

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Rindner, M., & Azrieli, A. (1998). Control of nitidulid beetles in dried fruits by modified atmospheres. In C. Adler (Ed.), Proceedings of the Working Group Integrated protection of stored products. August 31–September 9, 1997 Zürich, Switzerland, IOBC/WPRS Bulletin, 21(3) 159–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Donahaye, E., Kanner, Y., Rindner, M., Azrieli, A., Dias, R., Hovevey-zion, D., Nir, G., Zilberstain, B., Klayman, Y., Yakutieli, A., Baras, H., & Barak, M. (2000). Solar drying of dates Medjool var. during harvest (Annual Report 2000 of Research Project No. 417-0380-99, 18 pp). Israel: Ministry of Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (2003). Effectiveness of heat for disinfestation of nitidulid beetles from dates. In: G. L. Obenauf, & R. Obenauf (Eds.), Annual international research conference on methyl bromide alternatives and emissions reductions, November 2–6, 2003, San Diego 69 (pp. 1–2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (2004a). Heat treatment for disinfestation of nitidulid beetles from dates. In T. Batchelor & F. Alfarroba (Eds.), Proceedings of fifth international conference on alternatives to methyl bromide, September 27–30, 2004, Lisbon (pp. 297–300).

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., Rindner, M., & Dias, R. (2004b). Emigration and control of nitidulid beetles from dates using heat. In S. Navarro, C. Adler, M. Schöller, M. Emekçi, A. G. Ferizli, & L. S. Hansen (Eds.), Proceedings of the working group on integrated protection of stored products, September 16–19, 2003, Kusadasi, Turkey (IOBC/wprs Bulletin 27, pp. 219–225).

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., Ashbell, G., & Rimon, D. (2009). Development of heat disinfestations technology for dates varieties in packing houses as alternatives to the use of methyl bromide (58 pp). Report to Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, Israel. Available at: http://www.sviva.gov.il/English/ResourcesandServices/Publications/ResearchReportsPublications/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed on 6 June 2015. (In Hebrew with English Abstract)

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., Ashbell, G., & Rimon, D. (2010). Development of heat disinfestations technology for dates varieties in packing houses as alternatives to the use of methyl bromide (2nd Year Technical Report of Project, 64 pp). Israel: Ministry of Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, S., Finkelman, S., & Navarro H. (2013). Mortality of Carpophilus hemipterus eggs and larvae under the influence of thermal disinfestations. In IOBC/WPRS conference on integrated protection of stored products, July 1–4, 2013 (IOBC/wprs Bulletin, 98, pp. 159–165).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rindner, M., Navarro, S., & Azrieli, A. (2001). Critical moisture percents for safe storage of four dates cultivars. Alon Hanotea, 9(10), 433–436 (In Hebrew).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roesli, R., Subramanyam, B., Fairchild, F. J., & Behnke, K. C. (2003). Trap catches of stored-product insects before and after heat treatment in a pilot feed mill. Journal of Stored Products Research, 39, 521–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R., & Bishop, S. (2003). VapormateTM: Non-flammable ethyl formate/liquid carbon dioxide fumigant mixture. In E. J. Wright, M. C. Webb, & E. Highley (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australian postharvest technical conference on stored grain in Australia 2003, June 25–27, 2003 (pp. 190–192). Canberra: CSIRO Stored Grain Research Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rygg, G. L. (1956). Effect of temperature and moisture content on the rate of the deterioration in Deglet Noor dates. Annual Report of the Date Grower’s Institute, 33, 8–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, P., & Nelson, H. D. (1975). Insects on dried fruits (USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 464, 26 pp). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • TEAP & MB (Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee). (2003). Handbook on critical use nominations for methyl bromide. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/spdpublc/mbr/mbtochandbook.pdf. Accessed on 20 May 2015.

  • UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme). (2006). Handbook for the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer (7th ed.). Nairobi: UNEP Ozone Secretariate. Available at: http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/Handbooks/MP_Handbook_2006.pdf. Accessed on 20 May 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidema, B. P., Thrane, M., Christensen, P., Schmidt, J., & Løkke, S. (2008). Carbon footprint – A catalyst for life cycle assessment? Journal of Industrial Ecology, 12, 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedmann, T., & Minx, J. (2008). A definition of ‘carbon footprint’. In C. C. Pertsova (Ed.), Ecological economics research trends (pp. 1–11). Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yahia, E. M. (2004). Date. In K. C. Gross, C. Y. Wang, & M. Saltveit (Eds.), The commercial storage of fruits, vegetables, and florist and nursery stocks (Agriculture Handbook No. 66 (HB-66), 5 pp). Washington, DC: USDA-ARS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaid, A. (2002). Date palm cultivation (FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper No. 156 Revision 1). Rome: FAO.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Green Storage Limited, Argaman 5, Rishon Lezion, Israel

    Hagit Navarro & Shlomo Navarro

Authors
  1. Hagit Navarro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shlomo Navarro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hagit Navarro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

    Waqas Wakil

  2. Food and Agriculture Org. of the UN, IPM(Red Palm Weevil), Al-Hass, Saudi Arabia

    Jose Romeno Faleiro

  3. Entomology Department, University of California, RIVERSIDE, California, USA

    Thomas A. Miller

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Navarro, H., Navarro, S. (2015). Post-harvest Processing of Dates: Drying, Disinfestation and Storage. In: Wakil, W., Romeno Faleiro, J., Miller, T. (eds) Sustainable Pest Management in Date Palm: Current Status and Emerging Challenges. Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24397-9_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation