This manual is intended to serve as a guide to farmers and processors of fruits
and vegetables in rural areas. It contains basic but valuable information on
post-harvest handling and marketing operations and storage of fresh and
processed products. It provides practical examples of preserving fruits and
vegetables addressing a combination of factors, highlighting technology which,
when combined, has a positive and synergistic effect in preventing biochemical
and physico-chemical reactions and microbial growth���?the main causes of
quality losses in fruits and vegetables. The suggested methodologies combine
technologies such as mild heat treatment, water activity reduction (aw),
lowering of the pH and use of anti-microbial substances to realize the