The demand for high quality fruits and vegetables to satisfy growing and changing market demand necessitates that all stakeholders in horticultural value chains have a working knowledge and understanding of technical operations that add and create value and which enhance safety and quality of fresh horticultural produce.

A number of resource materials in the form of technical bulletins, brochures and guidelines tailored to addressing technical aspects of post-harvest handling, value creation, safety, quality and cost efficiency in fresh fruit and vegetable chains have been developed.

Recent Publications

• Manual for the Preparation and Sale of Fruits and Vegetables. AGS Bulletin 151. This manual provides a comprehensive description of harvesting, post-harvest handling and marketing of fresh produce. For the publication click here.
• The Role of Post-harvest Management in Assuring the Quality and Safety of Horticultural Produce. AGS Bulletin 152. This bulletin reviews the factors that contribute to quality and safety deterioration of horticultural produce and describes approaches for assuring and maintaining quality and safety throughout the post-harvest chain. For the publication click here.
• Post-Harvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables in the Asia-Pacific Region (2006) is a joint publication of the Asian Productivity Organization and FAO. Click here to download the document.
• Post harvest Handling, Processing and Hygiene of Fruits and Vegetables (in Spanish ≈10 minutes). This audio video originated in AGST as training material for the component prevention of post harvest losses and combined methods technology for fruits and vegetables preservation was financed by FNOP/JNT/103/NOR project as part of . This audio video is useful training material for the training of professionals, technicians and entrepreneurs working in research, teaching and agro industry development of fruits and vegetables in developing countries.