Currently, most of the Brazilian production of banana is destined for domestic market and, generally, it is harvested, handled and carried in a deficient and inadequate form, contributing to substantial post harvest losses. This work had the objective of identifying the types and the intensity of mechanical damages after the harvest of 'Prata Anã' banana grown in Verdelândia, MG and put in cardboard, wood and plastic boxes. So, four boxes of banana were evaluated in each stage of the commercialization chain: before harvest, after the first washing and pre-selection (1st swimming pool of the packing house), after packing, after transport and distribution to the retail market in Montes Claros, MG, where the fruits remained in exposition for sale during 8 hours. The percentage of fruits, skin area and percentage of the damaged skin area increased along of the commercialization chain. The use of the cardboard box provided reduction in the incidence and intensity of mechanical damage in relation to the other types of packing. There was high incidence of the damage caused by abrasion in all the stages of the commercialization chain. The damage by compression presented great relative importance in the retail.
Musa spp.; losses; post harvest
