Effect of Processing and Packaging on the Performance of Tomatoes Product in Tomato Jos Company, Kaduna Nigeria (Published)
The Nigerian tomato industry faces persistent challenges including postharvest losses, poor quality control, and reliance on imported tomato products, despite being the second-largest producer in Africa. These issues significantly hinder the performance and market competitiveness of locally processed tomato products. This study investigates the effect of processing and packaging on the performance of tomato products at Tomato Jos Company, Kaduna, with the aim of evaluating how processing temperature, processing duration, and packaging materials influence product quality and performance. A quantitative research design was adopted, involving a census survey of 321 staff and partner farmers of Tomato Jos Company, out of which 287 sample size were used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly regression analysis via SPSS software. The findings revealed that processing temperature, processing time, and packaging materials had strong, statistically significant positive effects on tomato product quality. Specifically, regression results showed high R-square values above 0.80 and p-values less than 0.05 for each hypothesis tested. This confirms that processing and packaging methods significantly contribute to shelf life, consumer satisfaction, and product marketability. The study therefore concludes that the performance of tomato products is strongly influenced by production practices, particularly the conditions under which they are processed and packaged. Consequently, it was recommended that the company should standardize optimal processing temperatures, monitor and adjust processing durations, invest in high-quality, sustainable packaging materials, and implement training programs and quality assurance systems.
Keywords: Packaging, Performance, Processing, processing temperature, processing time