Optimizing decisions for post-harvest ripening agricultural produce supply chain management: a dynamic quality-based model

Fresh agricultural produce, which is characterized by post-harvest ripening and is required for long-term transportation in cross-regional trade, is commonly harvested at the unripe stage and undergoes a routine process of natural ripening followed by senescence. A model based on the dynamic quality of post-harvest ripening agricultural produce (PRAP) was proposed to optimize decisions to improve supply chain profits. To verify its effectiveness and robustness, the model is applied to a real banana supply chain. The theoretical derivations and simulation results show that, first, the optimal retail price and presentation timing based on the model can maximize the supply chain profit. Second, the proper choice of the combination of picking maturity and preservation temperature based on the time from picking to the retailer can effectively improve the on-shelf quality and supply chain profit. Third, supply chain management strategies for PRAP and fully ripened agricultural produce should be developed based on the different quality change characteristics of these two produce types.