This manual covers harvest and preparation for market, curing root/tuber/bulb crops, packing house operations, packing and packaging materials, decay and insect control, temperature and relative humidity control, and more. The introduction to the manual starts: "The three main objectives of applying postharvest technology to harvested fruits and vegetables are: to maintain quality (appearance, texture, flavor and nutritive value); to protect food safety; and to reduce losses between harvest and consumption. Effective management during the postharvest period, rather than the level of sophistication of any given technology, is the key in reaching the desired objectives. While large scale operations may benefit from investing in costly handling machinery and high-tech postharvest treatments, often these options are not practical for small-scale handlers. Instead, simple, low cost technologies often can be more appropriate for small volume, limited resource commercial operations, farmers involved in direct marketing, as well as for suppliers to exporters in developing countries."