Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) are nutritious and versatile crops of significant economic importance in the Caribbean. Tomatoes are staples of most farmers in Trinidad and Tobago, but the majority of harvested fruits are produced in East Trinidad, where fruits are sold either wholesale or retail to markets, supermarkets, and food service industries such as hotels and restaurants (FAO, 2018). Some of these crops are even exported to other Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) countries to supplement local demand. Hence, there is a need for crops to be of high quality to ensure food security and the health and wellbeing of consumers. In general, the typical distribution chain of fresh produce can be grouped into three major stages: production, marketing, and consumption. As crops move from farm to table, risks from contamination and spoilage can occur at several points in the food value chain (Fig. 1), leading to postharvest losses of fresh produce. Such losses are caused by a variety of factors, such as environmental conditions, mechanical injuries, inadequate storage, unsuitable handling, and transportation, in addition to unhygienic practices (Maharaj et al., 2015; Yeshiwas and Tadele, 2021).
Pests and diseases are prevalent in the Caribbean because of the high humidity and temperature conditions. The major pests and diseases associated with tomato production include whiteflies, bugs, beetles, worms, nematodes, viruses, and anthracnose caused by fungi (Liu and Wang, 2020). Plant diseases, which include foliar infections caused by fungi and bacteria that cause major losses in fruit yield, severely hamper sweet pepper production (Rajamanickam et al., 2023). Over the first half of the fiscal year (2023), sweet pepper production contributed 7.6% to total food production in Trinidad and Tobago, but there was a 40.8% reduction in its production volume compared to that in the same period prior to the year (Ministry of Finance, 2023). In many instances, farmers resort to the use of insecticides and pesticides to eliminate plants and crops with visible signs of disease and colonies of insects. Pesticide residues are very small amounts of pesticides or even breakdown products that can remain in or on a crop after harvesting or storage and can make their way into the food chain (Ministry of Health, 2023). The European Union “farm-to-fork” strategy aims to reduce chemical pesticides by 50% (EU, 2023). Protected agricultural structures have several advantages over open field crops because of their temperature and humidity conditions, growth media, pests and diseases, and irrigation, which are better controlled, leading to higher quality crops and yields (Cafuta et al., 2021).
Tomatoes were rank number 12, and sweet peppers were ranked 7th on the “dirty dozen” list of plants with high pesticide levels (EWG, 2022). It is important to minimize the exposure of humans, animals, and the environment to these toxic chemicals to prevent long-term effects such as chronic diseases and biomagnification (Jepson et al., 2020). Countries such as the European Union (EU) have imposed regulations related to the entry of agricultural crops for trace contaminants such as trace metals and pesticides (Jepson et al., 2020). However, soils for agricultural farming may contain trace metals and nutrient depletion since the parameters of the soil are not being monitored or controlled. There are few studies on trace metal contamination in soils in the Caribbean (Johnson et al., 1996). Cadmium contamination has been attributed primarily to the preharvest stage, and most mitigation strategies have focused on soil amelioration; however, little research has been conducted at the postharvest stage to identify further points of contamination or on the effects of cadmium contamination on the distribution of trace metals within crops (Meter et al., 2019). In greenhouse–grown tomatoes, careful control of potted soil mixes, pesticides, and fertilizers is employed to optimize growth and reduce carbon emissions. Narine et al. (2014) reported that 50% of consumers in Trinidad and Tobago were willing to pay more for greenhouse–grown tomatoes. However, the high demand for such tomatoes grown under protected agricultural structures in the Caribbean requires the use of costly chemicals in these smallholder farming systems. Furthermore, consumers and farmers may not be knowledgeable about these toxic chemicals and their levels in apparently healthy-looking fruits, and over time, repeated chemical exposure can have negative consequences due to their systemic effects. Ganpat et al. (2014) reported low compliance among farmers with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in Trinidad.
The presence of spoilage microorganisms in crops can be used as a presumptive indicator of the survival of foodborne pathogens. It was estimated that tomato farmers and producers lost an estimated U$250 million following a USFDA recall in 2008 (Economic Times, 2023) for certain varieties of tomato due to a salmonellosis outbreak (CDC, 2008). Salmonella spp. have been reported to cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in immunocompromised, young, and elderly people.
A vital component of food security is the provision of safe and high-quality foods to consumers. The assessment of food safety practices should be risk-based, evaluating the health risk of consumers from known food safety hazards. Monitoring of farming activities during crop production using appropriate Codex Alimentarius standards of maximum residue limits (MRLs) provides the basis for arriving at credible information for on-farm food safety activities (FAO, 2023). Laboratory analysis of food samples for food safety hazards provides the means for verifying the presence or absence of food safety hazards that result from food production practices. Thus, monitoring the safety and quality of produce according to national and international standards and regulations is critical not only for determining nutritional and health status but also for marketing products. This study investigated the microbiological and chemical profiles of tomatoes harvested in Trinidad from open fields and greenhouses using sensitive methods over a two-year period. Additionally, greenhouse–grown tomatoes and sweet peppers from the university experimental station were analysed for food safety. Cooked tomato meals were sampled at school kitchens for microbiological determination of faecal coliforms, Staphylococcus sp. and Salmonella sp. These data can be used to adopt appropriate standards of postharvest practices of food safety and quality for a healthy, market-oriented food supply chain.