Ultrasound in Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Directions

Abstract

Postharvest deterioration of fruits and vegetables remains a major source of global food loss, reducing both nutritional and economic value. Power ultrasound (20–100 kHz) is a non-thermal technology that supports postharvest handling through acoustic cavitation, with reported benefits for surface decontamination and quality retention. This systematic review synthesizes recent advances and highlights key gaps to guide future research and application. Across the literature, ultrasound performs most reliably when integrated with other postharvest treatments, including sanitizers, controlled or modified atmosphere packaging, coatings, calcium salts, and gentle heating. These combined approaches more often achieve stronger microbial reductions and better retention of firmness, color, and bioactive compounds than ultrasound alone, which typically shows modest, commodity dependent effects. Major barriers to wider use include incomplete reporting of ultrasound parameters, variable responses across commodities and product forms, and limited pilot scale validation. Progress toward commercial adoption will require standardized reporting and validation protocols, clearer guidance on commodity specific application windows, and technoeconomic evaluation alongside mechanistic studies that track longer term biological responses during storage.