The primary goals of research on postharvest biology and technology of fresh produce are to reduce losses in quantity and quality and tomaintain safetybetween harvestandconsumption sites. The strategies for attaining these goals include: (1)growing cultivars that have good flavor and nutritional quality plus long postharvest-life potential when harvested at optimum maturity; (2)using an integrated crop management system that maximizes yieldwithoutsacrificingquality;and(3)usingoptimalpostharvest handling practices to maintain quality and safety of the food products. Recent studies and literature reviews confirm that postharvest losses are still high at the farm, wholesale and retail levels,andthatnotmuchimprovementintheoverallpercentagof losses canbe documented from the1970sto the present,despite active horticultural education and research programs in many countries.