Mature longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) fruit have a succulent, edible and white aril. Maturity (ripeness) can be determined on the basis of fruit weight, skin colour, flesh sugar, acid concentration, sugar:acid ratio, flavour or days from anthesis. Longan fruit have a short shelf life at ambient temperature. Main determinants of shelf life and marketability are microbial decay and pericarp browning and postharvest protocols have been developed to reduce these defects. Recent research has focused on maintaining high fruit quality. Quarantine issues associated with fruit fly are also being addressed to secure overseas markets for longan fruit, and heat treatments and gamma or ionizing radiation disinfestation protocols have been investigated. In the light of health benefits, functional food products from longan fruit should be developed in the future.