This is an important and valuable addition to the literature on postharvest management of fruits and vegetables. At the core is a detailed photographic record of the effects on visual quality over time of storage under different temperature regimes for a wide range of fruits and vegetables. It is a valuable practical tool for anyone involved in the commercial fresh produce supply chain at any point from harvest to point of sale, as well as students and research scientists working in this field. Its breadth of coverage is particularly impressive and a major attribute.

Thirty-five different fruit and vegetable products taken from eight major groups are covered: subtropical and tropical fruits; pome and stone fruits; soft fruits and berries; Cucurbitaceae; solanaceous and other fruit vegetables; legumes and brassicas; stem leaf and other vegetables; and alliums. For each product, an overview is given of key quality characteristics, followed by a summary of optimum postharvest handling conditions, and a brief review of temperature effects on quality. The time and temperature effects on the visual quality of the selected variety are then summarized, followed by the detailed photographic plates. The photographic record is painstaking, and presents clearly and simply the quality problems that arise and the interactions over time spans and temperature regimes relevant to the commercial chain. Photographs of internal sections are also given where relevant.

The photographic record works least well for the black and nearly black fruit – blackberries, blackcurrants, and blueberries. The index for words beginning h to k is missing, but this is not a serious issue in such a book.