The two main objectives of applying postharvest technology to harvested fruits and vegetables are to maintain quality (appearance, texture, flavor, nutritive value and safety) and to reduce losses between harvest and consumption. Effective management during the postharvest period, rather than the level of sophistication of any given technology, is the key in reaching the desired objectives. While large scale operations may benefit from investing in costly handling machinery and high-tech postharvest treatments, often these options are not available to small-scale handlers for the simple reason of economies of scale. Instead, simple, low cost technologies can be more appropriate for small volume, limited resource commercial operations, farmers involved in direct marketing, for home gardeners, as well as for handlers in developing countries.