Postharvest Physiology of Vegetables is extremely useful to everyone concerned with the
production and marketing of fresh vegetables. It presents the physiology and associated
pathology of fresh vegetables under a single cover. Teachers, students, and researchers,
as well as the vegetable industry, can read about the scientific principles that govern the
postharvest life of fresh vegetables. The first edition’s editor (J. Weichmann) urged his
contributors to concentrate on the postharvest physiology of the various plant organs because
he sensed the need for a comprehensive discussion of the physiological factors that
influence the postharvest life of fresh vegetables. There was no other book quite like the
one Weichmann had in mind. He recognized that physiology, not technology, dictates
how crops must be handled to maintain optimal quality with minimal waste. Recognizing
similarities and differences between various crop physiologies is essential to successful
marketing strategies.