Valoración cuantitativa y cualitativa del desperdicio de papaya en el Mercado Municipal Cotocollao del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito : generación de datos sobre el desperdicio de papaya en el mercado de Cotocollao.

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to perform a comprehensive assessment, both quantitatively and qualitatively, of food waste at the Cotocollao municipal market in Quito, Ecuador. This research is part of a larger series aimed at gathering information on food waste across various markets within the metropolitan area of Quito. The goal is to acquire both quantitative and qualitative data to formulate effective solutions to address the issue of food waste. The project is organized into a systematic series of steps, encompassing the identification of key components, the clear and time-bound definition of objectives, understanding the project's scope, presenting the theoretical framework, and applying the methodology in alignment with the project's goals. We conducted eleven sessions with merchants, acquiring products identified as waste. Over a seven-day period, we observed aspects of merchants' practices in presenting their products, as well as factors influencing product waste. Data collection occurred at the specified locations, focusing on waste from various fruits and vegetables. Additionally, by collecting products for disposal, we determined that the average daily waste of products amounted to 29.81 kg, as illustrated in Table 1. Papaya, being a highly demanded and commercialized product in Ecuador, emerged as a noteworthy case study, contributing to a comprehensive information base. Waste from papaya in the Cotocollao market constitutes 4.45% compared to other fruits (Table 2) and escalates to 151.20% when comparing the average papaya waste to the overall average waste per product of fruits and vegetables. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation undertaken in this study has unveiled crucial aspects of commercial dynamics, as well as factors directly influencing product waste. Notably, the daily wastage of papaya quantities represents a significant monetary loss for merchants, given that the fruit's shape often results in one being discarded per day.