An Analysis of Key Factors Contributing to Apple Waste from the Perspective of Gardeners in Tehran Province, Iran

Hossein Shabanali Fami (), Narges Mirzaee Gorji (), Ali Asadi, Aliakbar Barati, Mohammad Ali Askari Sarcheshmeh and Lusine Henrik Aramyan
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Hossein Shabanali Fami: Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, Iran
Narges Mirzaee Gorji: Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, Iran
Ali Asadi: Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, Iran
Aliakbar Barati: Department of Agricultural Management and Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, Iran
Mohammad Ali Askari Sarcheshmeh: Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj P.C. 31518-77871, Iran
Lusine Henrik Aramyan: Wageningen Social and Economic Research, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 35, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

World, 2025, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: The increasing waste of agricultural products is a significant threat to food security worldwide, including Iran. The horticultural sector faces a critical challenge with significant fruit waste, particularly apples, occurring at various supply chain stages. Coping with this problem and improving apple waste management at the garden level is important for achieving sustainable agriculture and food security goals. This study aimed to identify the main factors influencing apple waste from the viewpoint of apple gardeners in Tehran province, Iran, which plays a pivotal role in apple production and supplying the fruit to markets nationwide. The statistical population of the study was apple gardeners in Tehran province (N = 9310), out of which 188 people were selected as a sample by applying the Cochran formula. The data were collected through a researcher-made structured questionnaire developed for this study. Personal face-to-face interviews were conducted with the gardeners by adopting a cluster sampling technique. A panel judgment of the faculty members in the Department of Agricultural Management and Development at the University of Tehran confirmed the questionnaire’s validity. Its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha value above 0.7. The collected data were later analyzed by descriptive statistics measures and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and Smart PLS software. This study found that inefficient harvesting practices are the primary contributors to apple waste in Tehran, particularly due to improper handling and timing. It highlighted the need for better training, improved harvesting methods, and enhanced infrastructure. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions could significantly reduce apple waste, improving both economic viability and sustainability in the region’s apple production sector.

Keywords: waste management; agricultural practices; apple supply chain; Tehran province; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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