QUANTIFICAÇÃO E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DAS PERDAS E DO DESPERDÍCIO DE BANANA NO COMÉRCIO VAREJISTA DE MUNICÍPIOS DO SUDESTE DE GOIÁS

Abstract

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in Brazil, standing out for their wide acceptance, nutritional value, and economic importance to the fruit growing sector. However, their high perishability contributes to losses and waste throughout the commercialization process, especially in retail. In this context, the present study aimed to quantify and characterize banana losses and waste in the retail trade of municipalities in the Southeast region of Goiás. The research was conducted in the municipalities of Caldas Novas, Corumbaíba, Ipameri, Urutaí, and Pires do Rio, through the application of structured questionnaires to retail establishments that sell the fruit. The data collection instrument included information related to the volume sold, frequency of replenishment, main causes of losses, disposal methods, and strategies adopted to reduce waste. The data obtained allowed us to identify the magnitude of losses in the retail segment, as well as the factors that most contribute to their occurrence, including mechanical damage, accelerated ripening, inadequate storage conditions, and reduction in the visual quality of the fruit. According to the results obtained, the banana variety with the highest losses was the Cavendish banana, followed by the plantain. The main causes of the losses are related to lack of refrigerated storage and distance from production centers.