FURI | Fall 2018

Melon Preservation with Solar Drying Technology in Rural Panama

For a plentiful yield for farmers in rural farms in Panama, there is a significant amount of melon that goes to waste because there is no storage system in place. To combat melon waste, the implementation of a drying system to preserve the melon is explored. There are many concerns that must be incorporated into the final solution, such as environmental factors and maintenance of the final product, including specifically the exploration of hydrocarbon pollutants. For these reasons, a solar dryer is a promising strategy to combat the food waste present in these crop-growing regions.