ABSTRACT
Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable and require proper postharvest management, using appropriate techniques for handling and storage to minimize loss. †e range of postharvest losses varies anywhere from 5% to 50% and higher. In developing countries, the postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables are enormous due to lack of adequate infrastructure and poor postharvest handling practices. As a consequence, growers and those involved with the food handling chain suffer major ‡nancial losses. †e shelf life of these products is severely reduced and the consumer receives a product of poor quality and lower nutritional value. It is not uncommon that the gains made in increasing the production yields of fruits and vegetables are compromised by increased postharvest losses due to inadequate practices.
