From Orchard to Market: Innovation and Sustainability in Almond Post-Harvest Management

This thesis explores the role of harvest and post-harvest management as a critical pillar of sustainability in almond orchard systems, through an in-depth literature review and four carefully developed case studies of California, Italy, Georgia, and a method-based analysis on modified atmosphere storage. Thesis evaluates how resource efficiency, technological innovation, and environmental impact intersect at the final stage of almond production. The study analyses real-world practices including mechanised harvesting, drip irrigation, renewable energy integration, and precision post-harvest storage under controlled atmosphere and temperature. It also gives an analyses on how these approaches affect nut quality, post-harvest losses, and long-term sustainability indicators such as water use, emissions, and nutrient preservation.