Look beyond the harvest
FAO’s post-harvest training manual connects produce losses with harvesting, handling, packaging and transport. It describes physiological deterioration, physical injury and diseases among the causes of loss.
A useful commercial discussion therefore follows the product beyond the field. Our suggested brief identifies the crop, intended market, harvest and handling arrangements, pack format and delivery responsibilities.
Agree what changes hands
Purchasing, packing and transport teams need the same acceptance criteria. Write down what will be inspected, how a lot is identified and how a problem is recorded at receipt.
Use the cited manual as background for the supply-chain questions, rather than as a substitute for a crop-specific handling protocol. The right operational detail depends on the produce, its condition and the route it will actually travel.
Further reading
Researched and written with AI assistance; references are listed for verification.
