Fresh fruits and vegetables
The international trade in fresh fruits and vegetables is a multibillion-dollar
business. It provides vital export revenues for many developing countries,
and losses resulting from inadequate post-harvest handling, storage and distribution
practices can result in diminished financial returns and risks to consumer
health.
AGNS recently completed a 3-year project under the FAO Action
Programme for the Prevention of Food Losses (PFL) - the Global Inventory, Reference
Materials and Food Safety Training Programme to Improve the Safety and Quality
of Fresh Fruits and Wegetables.
The project focused on the application of good practices (e.g.
GAPs, GMPs, GHPs) to prevent hazards along the fresh fruits and vegetables
chain. Through activities carried out in partnership with public and private
institutions, government officials and employees of food enterprises were taught
the importance of good practices, and acquired practical skills to improve
the safe production, harvesting, handling, storage, transport and marketing
of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Work under this ongoing programme, from an initial project focus
in Latin America and the Caribbean, has now been extended to Africa and Asia
through both national and sub-regional workshops and seminars, designed to
develop and implement national fresh fruits and vegetables action plans.
In addition, technical cooperation projects (TCPs) to enhance
the safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables have also been implemented
in various countries, including Thailand, Benin, Senegal and China.
For more information on AGNS activities and training materials
concerning the safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables, please email
us.
See also
Integrated food control systems > Good practices and quality
assurance
|
1,917kb]