Microbial ecology of fresh vegetables

The total consumption of fresh and processed vegetables has exceeded 123 kg per capita in the United States and 118 kg per capita in the European Union (http://www.helgilibrary.com/ indicators/index/vegetable‐consumption‐percapita) in 2009. Changes in lifestyles and consumption trends have prompted the sustained growth of fresh‐cut or minimally processed vegetables that are fresh and ready‐to‐eat (RTE). In 2011, for example, total US fresh‐cut produce sales through both food service and retail channels were estimated to surpass $27 billion (Cook et al., 2012)