Commissioned by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the vegetable levy and matched funds from the Australian Government, the Postharvest management of vegetables: Australian supply-chain handbook comprises more than 150 pages of valuable information.

Horticulture Innovation Australia chief executive officer, John Lloyd, said the handbook will be a valuable guide for all parts of the supply chain, from suppliers to growers to retailers. “This book is the culmination of more than twenty years of vegetable supply-chain-related-research and includes a great depth of information that up until now, has not been collated and made available to industry in one resource. It is a unique resource, specific to the Australian market.”

The handbook includes technical information on general postharvest principles, from understanding the effects of storage atmosphere to how to evaluate and manage produce quality. It also includes best-practice guides for 23 key vegetable crops, and quick reference tables for storage and transport.

In the creation of the book, Hort Innovation and research partners Applied Horticulture Research consulted with more than 50 postharvest specialists and growers, through platforms such as a workshop in Melbourne, industry meetings and events, and farm visits.

To order a copy of the handbook, which is free to all vegetable supply chain stakeholders, e-mail Sandra Marques.

Copies of the handbook will also be available at an associated postharvest roadshow planned for major vegetable growing regions from September to October this year.

For more information, visit, Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd: www.horticulture.com.au