The primary goals of research on postharvest biology and technology of fresh produce are to reduce losses in quantity and quality and to maintain safety between harvest and consumption 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 yield without sacrificing quality; and (3)using optimal postharvest 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, and that not much improvement in the overall percentage of losses can be documented from the 1970s to the present, despite active horticultural education and research programs in many countries.